The following English idioms and expressions use the word 'like.' Each idiom or expression has a definition and two example sentences to help your understanding of these common idiomatic expressions with 'like.'
Eat like a horse
Definition: usually eat a lot of food
- Tom eats like a horse! Make sure to grill three hamburgers for him.
- He doesn't usually eat like a horse.
Eat like a bird
Definition: usually eat very little food
- She eats like a bird, so don't make too much for dinner.
- He weighs 250 pounds even though he eats like a bird.
Feel like a million
Definition: feel very good and happy
- I'm feeling like a million today. I just got a new job!
- After his promotion, he felt like a million.
Fit like a glove
Definition: clothes or apparel that fit perfectly
- My new shoes fit like a glove.
- Her jeans fit like a glove after she went on a diet.
Go like clockwork
Definition: to happen very smoothly, without problems
- The presentation went like clockwork.
- Her plans went like clockwork and she was able to join the company.
Know someone or something like the back of one's hand
Definition: know in every detail, understand completely
- She knows me like the back of her hand.
- I know this project like the back of my hand.
Like a bat out of hell
Definition: very fast, quickly
- He left the room like a bat out of hell.
- They drove off like a bat out of hell.
Like a bump on a log
Definition: not moving
- Don't sit there like a bump on a log!
- She sits around all day like a bump on a log.
Like a fish out of water
Definition: completely out of place, not belonging at all
- He looks like a fish out of water on the football field.
- The boss felt like a fish out of water in San Francisco.
Like a sitting duck
Definition: be very exposed to something
- He felt like a sitting duck and moved to cover his position.
- Your investments have left you like a sitting duck in this market.
Out like a light
Definition: fall asleep quickly
- He went out like a light.
- I hit the pillow and was out like a light.
Read someone like a book
Definition: understand the other person's motivation for doing something
- She can read me like a book.
- I know you don't mean that. I can read you like a book.
Sell like hotcakes
Definition: sell very well, very quickly
- The book sold like hotcakes.
- The iPhone initially sold like hotcakes.
Sleep like a log
Definition: sleep very deeply
- I was tired and slept like a log.
- She went home and slept like a log.
Spread like wildfire
Definition: an idea that gets known very quickly
- His solution to the problem spread like wildfire.
- Her opinions spread like wildfire.
Watch someone like a hawk
Definition: keep a very close eye on someone, watch very carefully
- Don't make any mistakes because I'm watching you like a hawk.
- She watches her son like a hawk whenever he goes outside to play.