Teaching English Grammar: Comparative expressions using animals

“Big as a Whale” and OtherComparative Expressions

Using Animals

Prof. Larry M. Lynch proflmlynch@gmail.com

http://octopusgourmet.wordpress.com/art-literature-and-educational-tidbits/%C3%83%C2%A2%C3%82%C2%80%C3%82%C2%9Cmoby-dick-on-a-stick%C3%83%C2%A2%C3%82%C2%80%C3%82%C2%9D-the-whale-as-food/

Many idioms and expressionsin English use animals

in comparative expressions.

Here are a few widelyused examples:

http://interestingfactsblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/facts-about-crocodiles.html

Big as a whale

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowhead_whale

Blind as a bat

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat

Brave as a lion

https://twitter.com/essexlion

Busy as a bee

http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2013/may/05/bees-protecting-endangered-news-resources-round-up

Crazy as a loon

https://github.com/unrealities/tombot/blob/master/scripts/loon.coffee

Dumb as an Ox

http://hubpages.com/hub/Year-of-the-Ox

Fast as a Jackrabbit

https://powerplantmen.wordpress.com/tag/jackrabbit/

Happy as a Clamhttp://www.thefishsociety.co.uk/shop/cherrystone-clam-hardshell%20clam.html

Snug as a bug in a rug

http://usadultliteracy.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/idiom-of-the-week-snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rug/

Proud as a Peacockhttp://www.santabanta.com/wallpapers/peacocks/

Quiet as a Mouse

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAYQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.armradio.am%2Fen%2F2014%2F10%2F19%2Fman-finds-dead-mouse-in-his-mcdonalds-coffee%2F&ei=zHaAVMuyF4GhNrG1gaAM&psig=AFQjCNE91zgKIZQUDDcaXL1reQ0

jb-1FZg&ust=1417791273781131

Silly as a Goose

http://www.scottish-country-dancing-dictionary.com/dance-crib/wild-goose-chase.html

Slippery as an Eel

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=21263.0

S-l-o-w as a Turtle

http://www.ecology.com/2012/05/23/world-turtle-day/

Sly as a Fox

http://www.frmheadtotoe.com/2012/10/fox-halloween-tutorial.html

Strong as a Bull

http://dreamatico.com/bull.html

Stubborn as a Mule

http://business.time.com/2011/08/18/when-stock-analysts-double-down-head-for-the-hills/

Wise as an Owl

http://libguides.sevenhillsschool.org/content.php?pid=550305&sid=4533441

Swim like a Fish

http://nolimitsscuba.com/blog/scuba/conserving-air-while-diving/

Eats like a Horse

Drinks like a camelhttp://www.personal.psu.edu/wbs14/blogs/horses_agriculture/

http://www.redorbit.com/education/reference_library/animal_kingdom/mammalia/1112681451/dromedary-camel-camelus-dromedarius/

Eats like a Bird

http://talkrational.org/showthread.php?t=59853&page=5

Runs like a Deerhttp://twoguysatlunch.blogspot.com/2013/09/wegmans-or-bust.html

Meek as a Lamb

http://www.reddit.com/r/SketchDaily/comments/21tapz/march_31st_out_like_a_lamb/

Thrifty as a Squirrel

http://easterngraysquirrel.deviantart.com/journal/16-tips-for-photographing-squirrels-346745747

Filthy as a Pig

http://charltonteaching.blogspot.com/2014/04/untruths-told-to-children-pigs-

are.html

Heavy as an Elephant

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/hilarious-moment-elephant-uses-car-3997679

Hard-working as an Ant

http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2012/12/27/how-leafcutter-ants-evolved-from-farmers-into-cows/

“That’s all for now, folks!See youNext time”

Prof. Larry M. LynchProflmlynch@gmail.com

Read more online at:

http://hdwallsource.com/goose-wallpaper-33252.html