Here are some native-speaker expressions and similes for describing people.
A simile (pronounced “sim-i-lee”) is a type of comparison. You can make this comparision by saying “as + adjective + as + noun”.
There are many similes in English, but these ones are used particularly to describe people. You’ll hear them a lot in spoken English, and it’s also worth learning a couple of them to impress people in conversation!
English Similes
as light as a feather = to not weigh very much
“She’s lost so much weight. She’s as light as a feather.”
as hard as nails = to be emotionally strong
“She never cries when she watches sad films. She’s as hard as nails.”
as tough as old boots = to be very strong
“I never worry about my grandfather’s health. He’s as tough as old boots.”
as bold as brass = to be unafraid of the reaction you’ll get if you do something
“So John went up to his boss, as bold as brass, and asked for a pay raise.”
as cold as ice = to be very cold
“I’ve been out walking in the snow. My feet are as cold as ice!”
as dull as ditchwater = to be very boring
“I had to attend a company dinner. The conversation was as dull as ditchwater.”
as good as gold = to be very well-behaved
“It’s always a pleasure to babysit her children. They’re as good as gold.”
as daft as a brush = to be silly or forgetful
“I’m getting as daft as a brush. I managed to lose my glasses twice today.”
as cool as a cucumber = to not show any emotion
“He told me he was nervous in the meeting, but he looked as cool as a cucumber!”
as high as a kite = to be high (on excitement or drugs)
“The kids came back from the festival as high as a kite.”
as sharp as a tack = very quick to understand
“Her son is as sharp as a tack. They’ve moved him up a class at school.”
as regular as clockwork = to be very regular in your habits
“There’s John again, walking his dog. He’s as regular as clockwork.”
Want to get an advanced English vocabulary? Check out Advanced English Vocabulary In 30 Days.
I show you how to easily double your vocabulary with the Triple A (AAA) method, and how to use scientifically-proven techniques for remembering vocabulary.