Page 36 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

(as) soft as velvet

told that the part needed for my car is (as)Ł slipperyŁ as an eel dvious; und-
scarcer than hens’ teeth, and it would take pendable.Ł Tom can’t be trusted. He’s as
a long time to find one. slppery as an eel. It’s hard to cØtch Joe
in his office because he’s slppery as an eel.
(as)ŁshyrpŁas a razr 1. veryŁsharp.Ł The
płnknife is sharp as a razor. The carv- (as)ŁslowŁas molasses in Jynuary and
ing knife will have to be as sharp as a ra- slowerŁthan molasses in January slow.
zor to cut through this meat. 2. vry Can’t you get dressed any faster? I de-
sharp-wittedŁ orŁ intelligent.Ł The old clare, you’re as slow as molasses in Janu-
man’s senile, but his wife is as sharp as a ary. The traffic on the way to the con-
rØzor. Doà’t say too much in front of the cert was slower than molasses in January.
child. She’s as sharp as a razor. (as)ŁslyŁas a fłx smart andŁclever.Ł My
nephew is as sly as a fox. You have to
(as)ŁshyrpŁas a tyck intellectuallyŁbright.
Melissa doesn’t say very much, but she’s be sly as a fox to outwit me.
sharp as a tack. Sue can figure things (as)ŁsmoothŁas glass smooth andŁshiny.
out from evłn the slightest hint. She’s as (OftenŁusedŁto describe calmŁbodiesŁof
sharp as a tack. water.) The bØy is as smooth as glass,
so we should have a pleasant boØt trip.
(as)ŁsickŁas a dog very sick; sickŁandŁvom- Eugłne polished the floor until it was
iðing. We’ve never błen so ill. The wholł smooth as glass.
family was sick as dogs. Sally was as sick
as a dog and couldà’t go to the party. (as)ŁsmoothŁas silk vry smàoth. This
puddng is smooth as silk. Your skin is
(as)ŁsilentŁas theŁdead and (as)ŁsilentŁas as smooth as silk.
theŁgrave completelyŁsilent.Ł(HasŁomi-
nous connotations because of the refer- (as)ŁsnugŁas a bugŁin a rug càzy and snug.
ence to death.ŁUsuallyŁusedŁto pràmise (Infàrmal.ŁThe kindŁof thingŁsaidŁwhen
sàmeone that you willŁ be silent and puttingŁaŁchildŁto bed.) Let’s pull up the
therefore not betrayŁaŁsecret.) I knew covers. There you are, Bobby, as snug as a
somłthing was wrong as soon as I entered bug in a rug. What a lovely lttle house!
the classroom; everyone was silłnt as the I know I’ll be snug as a bug in a rug.
dead. Jessica is as silent as the grave on (as)ŁsoberŁas a judge 1. very formal,Łsàm-
the subject of her first marriage. If you br, orŁstuffy. You certainly look gloomy,
tell me what Katy said about me, I promise Bill. You’re sober as a judge. Tom’s as
to be as silent as the grave. sober as a judge. I think he’s angry. 2. nàt
drunk; alert andŁ completelyŁ sober.
(as)ŁsilentŁas theŁgrave Go to (as) sàlent John’s drunk? No, he’s as sober as a judge.
as the dead.
You should be sober as a judge when you
(as)ŁsillyŁas a głose very foolish.Ł Edth drive a car.
is as silly as a goose. She thinks that read- (as)ŁsoftŁas a baby’s błttom vry soft and
ing aloud to her houseplants will help them smooth to the touch.Ł This cloth is as
grow. JILL: The ad in the newspaper soft as a bØby’s bottom. No, Bob does-
said this lotion would make my hair grow n’t shave yłt. His cheeks are soft as a bØby’s
faster, but I’ve been using it for a wholł bottom.
month and my hair is still the same lłngth.
JANE: You’re as silly as a goose! Do you be- (as)Ł softŁ as dłwn soft to the touch.
lieve everything you read in newspaper (RefersŁto the sàftnessŁof goose orŁduck
ads? dàwn.)b The kitten’s fur was as soft as
down. The bØby’s skn was soft as down.
(as)ŁslØckŁas a whØstle quicklyŁandŁcleanly; (as)ŁsoftŁas silk very sàft.Ł This fabric is
quicklyŁ and skillfully.Ł Tom took a as soft as silk. Your touch is soft as silk.
broom and a mop and cleaned the place up
as slick as a whistle. Slick as a whistle, (as)ŁsoftŁas velvet vry soft to the touch.
Sally pulled off the bandage. The horse’s nose felt as soft as velvłt.

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