Language Learning Base

As big as life
There I saw him as big as life!
John came in the room and stood there as big as life.
as black as pitch
Definition: Very dark
I couldn't see a thing in the room because it was as black as pitch.
I can't see a thing. It's as black as pitch. Get a flashlight.
as busy as a beaver / as busy as a bee
Definition: Very busy
I was as busy as a bee over the weekend. I got a lot done.
He's always as busy as a beaver.
I wonder if he ever takes a break.
as clean as a whistle
Definition: Very clean
That car is as clean as a whistle now that you've washed it.
I like to keep my desk as clean as a whistle.
as clear as crystal
Definition: Very clear and understandable
Let me be as clear as crystal. Hurry up!
She was as clear as crystal about her intentions.
as cool as a cucumber
Definition: Calm and not nervous
as crazy as a loon
Definition: Very crazy
She's as crazy as a loon. You can't believe a word she says.
I wouldn't worry about his opinion, he's as crazy as a loon.
as dead as a doornail
Definition: dead
That's as dead as a doornail. Forget about it.
The project is as dead as a doornail.
as far as possible
Definition: As much as possible
I'll see what I can do as far as possible.
She went as far as possible in trying to get the project approved.
as flat as a pancake
Definition: Very flat
Kansas is as flat as a pancake.
Make sure the table is as a flat as a pancake.
as free as a bird
Definition: Feeling very free and care easy
Our children are away for the weekend so we're as free as a bird.
I used to feel as free as a bird when I was younger.
as good as done
Definition: Almost done
The job is as good as done.
We're almost ready to begin. The cake is as good as done.
as happy as a clam
Definition: Very happy and content
I'm as happy as a clam living in Portland.
She seemed as happy as a clam yesterday.
as hard as nails
Definition: Cruel and very hard
He's as hard as nails with his staff.
Don't work for her. She's as hard as nails.
as hungry as a bear
Definition: Very hungry
Do you have a sandwich? I'm as hungry as a bear.
When we arrived I was as hungry as a bear.
as innocent as a lamb
Definition: Without guilt
There's no way she could have done that. She's as innocent as a lamb.
He's only pretending to be as innocent as a lamb.
as mad as a hatter
Definition: Crazy
Don't believe anything he says. He's as mad as a hatter.
They threw him out of court because he was as mad as a hatter.
as old as the hills
Definition: Very old
My aunt is as old as the hills.
That car is as old as the hills.
as plain as day
Definition: Simple, clear
The facts are as plain as day.
What you need to do is as plain as day.
as pleased as punch
Definition: Very happy with something
He's as pleased as punch with the new boss.
She's as pleased as punch with her new car.
as quiet as a mouse
Definition: Very quiet, shy
She sat in the corner and was as quiet as a mouse at the party.
Can you believe that he was as quiet as a mouse when he was a boy?
as right as rain
Definition: Genuine and true
Yes, that's as a right as rain!
She feels his views are as right as rain.
as sick as a dog
Definition: Very sick
My brother is at home as sick as a dog.
I'm feeling as sick as a dog. I think I need to go home.
As sly as a fox
Definition: Smart and clever
She understood the situation and used it to her advantage because she's as sly as a fox.
Don't trust him because he's as sly as a fox.

Remember: we use a / an before jobs. We use "a" before jobs that begin with a consonant sound, and "an" before jobs that begin with a vowel sound.
I work as a teacher / a doctor
He works as an electrician / an accountant
Useful verbs
Here are some useful verbs to describe what you do in your job.
(for management type jobs in a company or office): manage, organise, supervise
(for teaching and caring type jobs): teach, train, help, look after
(for construction, technology and jobs with machines): build, test, develop, design, program, repair, check
(for financial and planning type jobs): analyse, assess, evaluate, work out, prepare, plan
(for sales and marketing type jobs): buy, sell, import, export, market
(for driving and logistics type roles): drive, deliver, transport
(for jobs where communication is important): write, phone, talk, listen to, meet, attend / have meetings
You can also use "do" to describe your job. (We often use do to talk about routine, or more boring things.)
I do the housework / do the gardening / do the admin / do the paperwork
There are also activities where we use "make":
make appointments, make phone calls, make coffee, make decisions