Newsgroup: it.cultura.linguistica.inglese
Titolo: Similes

Just a list of them. :)
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As proud as a peacock.
As strong as an ox.
As wise as an owl.
As blind as a bat.
As quiet as a mouse.
As slippery as an eel.
As happy as a lark.
As hairy as a gorilla.
As playful as a kitten. 
As sly as a fox.
As cunning as a fox.
As meek as a lamb.
As busy as a bee.
As slow as a snail.
As brave as a lion.
As fat as a pig.
As keen as mustard.
As calm as a cat.
As gentle as a dove.
As graceful as a swan.
As heavy as an elephant.
As hungry as a wolf.
As stubborn as a mule.
As sure as death and taxes.
As good as gold.  (about a child)
As sharp as a tack.
As cold as ice.
As light as a feather.
As fast as a flash.
As fast as a lightening.
As cool as a cucumber.
A white as a sheet.
As intelligent as a rock. 
To be fast like the wind.
To be sweet as honey.
To walk like a duck.  (in a waddly sort of way)
To sleep like a dog.
Like a red rag to a bull.
Like a bear with a sore head.
Like a fish out of the water.
Like a bull in a china shop.
Dead as a doornail.
Dumb as a doornail.
Stupid as a nail.
White as snow.
Crazy as a fox.
Cheeks like hairy peaches.
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Sebastiano
--
Monica: Joey, what would you do if you were omnipotent? 
Joey: I'd probably kill myself. 
Monica: Excuse me? 
Joey: Hey, if "Little Joey"'s dead, then I got no reason to live. 

 writes

Most of these are the sort of archaic textbook nonsense that kids like
me had to learn 50 years ago to pass their 11+ exam.  In everyday
conversation most of them have changed out of recognition and are
treated with little respect.
As thick as two short planks = unintelligent.
As happy as a pig in sh...
As dead as dodo
Sleep like a log.
As pissed as a fart - totally inebriated.
Yours in bad taste
-- 
John G Davies

As pissed as a fart - totally inebriated.
LOL


 As keen as mustard.
"Keen as mustard" is the usual expression.
-- 
Mary

Should be "like a fish out of water"
Gee, I am not able to copy a sentence from my textbook. :)
Thanks for the clarification.


 As pissed as a fart - totally inebriated.
Pissed as a newt (drunk)
Thick as a brick (unintelligent)
Hard as nails    (tough)
Bent as a hairpin (gay)
Sick as a parrot (angry)
I can't think of many modern Italian similes - the only one that comes
to mind is "fuori come un balcone", but there must be lots more.
-- 
Mary

 
Sorry, "very upset" would be a better definition.  It's mostly used
jokingly about football matches.
E.g. (found on the Internet) "prepare to experience the full range of
human emotions from 'over the moon' to 'as sick as a parrot'".
-- 
Mary

 to mind is "fuori come un balcone", but there must be lots more.
Vediamo, qualcuna che mi viene in mente (alcune sono analoghe a quelle 
inglesi e altrettanto oldfashioned):
furbo come una volpe
veloce come il vento
forte come un cavallo/toro
matto come un cavallo
testardo come un mulo
bello come il sole
brutto come la morte
puzzolente come una capra
vecchio come il cucco
inca**ato come una biscia/una bestia
dispettoso come una scimmia
felice come una pasqua
nudo come un verme
ciucco (=ubriaco) come una biglia
cieco come una talpa
solo come un cane
sano come un pesce
leggero come una piuma
andare come un treno
dormire come un ciocco/un ghiro
essere piatta come una tavola/sogliola (= con poco seno)
strillare come un'aquila
bere come un cammello
parlare come un libro stampato
Non male quella coniata da Luciana Littizzetto:
sola come un gambo di sedano.
-- 
Ciao,
Anna

to mind is "fuori come un balcone", but there must be lots more.
I said that one to my American professor [bilingul English-Italian].
"Out like a balcony". O' course I was kidding :).
Btw, in italian:
"dormire come un ghiro" --> to sleep very deelply
"duro come il marmo" --> to be very dumb or to be very hard (not
metaphorically).
"furbo come una volpe"
"puzzare come una capra" --> to be stinky
"veloce come il vento"
"lento come una lumaca"
"sordo come una campana" hard of hearing
"cieco come una talpa" --> Not being able to see well.
"muto come un pesce" --> not willing to talk. Don't worry, I'll say
anything. I'll be "..".
"imbranato come una foca" --> to be really clumsy
"matto come un cavallo" --> crazy
"forte come un toro"
"veloce come un fulmine"
"preciso come un orologio svizzero"
"feroce come una iena"
"buono come il pane" --> to be good [a person]
"viscido come un serpente"
"bello come il sole" --> really beautiful
"brutto come la fame/morte/peccato" --> really ugly
"libero come l'aria"
"fumare come un turco" --> to smoke a lot (like a chimney?)
"bestemmiare come un turco --> to swear a lot (like a trooper?)
"magro come un chiodo"
"dolce come lo zucchero/il miele"
"falso come Giuda"
"grasso come un porco"
Ran out of similes :)
But I am not ran out of bullshit. I am in good mood today! :)
Romeng(lish)
But what really really? = Ma che davero davero?
Not even to the dogs! = Manco a li cani!
Which God taxi driver! = Che dio t'assista
But what are you stay to make? = Ma che te stai a fà?
It's a dick and all one = E' un cazzo e tutt'uno
In four and four eight = In quattro e quattr'otto
But who makes me make it... = Ma chimmelo fa fa
But, from when in here? = Ma da quanno 'n'qua
Right to be light. = Giusto pe esse chiari
But of what! = Ma de chè
How does it throw! = Come te butta!
And what, do I sell the flowers at the corner and sleep on the
watermelon = E che, venno i fiori all'angolo e dormo sui cocommeri?
No, I send it to be told you = No, te lo manno a dì
The soul of your best dead relatives = L'anima de li mejo mortacci tua
These dicks = Sticazzi
I am tired dead = So stanco morto
Who wires you ! = Chi te se fila!
Who has been seen, has been seen = Chi s'è visto s'è visto
Who doesn't die, is reseen = Chi non muore se rivede
Today it's not air = Oggi non è aria
Beautiful dry! = Bella secco!
What I tell you for = Ma che te lo dico a fà!
You made it the hair = J'hai fatto er pelo
And what it steals to me = E chemme frega
It doesn't enter a dick there = Non c'entra un cazzo
What a big dicker = Che gran cazzaro
If I catch you I renew your face = Se te pijo te rinnovo i connotati
No, whistle = No, fischia
stay in bell, little black = sta' in campana, more'
stay beef = stai manzo
it told me socks = m'ha detto pedalino
we will peck each other again = s'aribbeccamo


Il bon vecchio
"[...] non ne ho alba [...]" ?
I haven't dawn       (carino ma non è corretto)
;-)