Think about the animals you know. What are their characteristics?
For example, mules (like the picture on the left) are very stubborn. They don’t want to do anything. They won’t change their minds easily.
In English, we can compare a person to an animal’s characteristic by using “as + adjective (characteristic) + as a(n) animal.” So, if Sue is very stubborn, we could say:
“Sue is as stubborn as a mule.”
Look at the names of animals below. What do you know about them? Is a bee clever? No, but it is busy. It’s always working hard. How about a horse?
bee | fox |
horse | bird |
bear | rabbit |
dog | mule |
pig | mouse |
Now use the names of the animals above to guess the idiom.
as clever as a _______ fox
as busy as a _______ bee
as stubborn* as a _______ mule
as strong as a _______ horse
as quiet as a _______ mouse
as free** as a _______ bird
as hungry as a _______ bear
as devoted*** as a _______ dog
as quick as a _______ rabbit
as fat as a _______ pig
* stubborn- will not change its mind
** free- in this case, free means it can do anything it wants
***devoted- always your friend, no matter what happens
Sentences
1. Leslie is always doing something. She is as ??? busy as a bee.
2. John can pick up a piano. He is as ??? strong as a horse.
3. Cassie never says anything. She is as ??? as quiet as a mouse.
4. I don’t have to work this week. I’m as ??? free as a bird.
5. His secretary was always helping him. She was as ??? devoted as a dog.