Victorian Parlor Games

Similes

Similes is a fun Victorian Parlour Game, and can actually be used in classrooms to teach similes. A simile is a figure of speech that compares to unlike things using like or as. One of the most famous come from Robert Burns, who wrote "My love is like a red, red rose." To play this game, you need a list of similes and a group of people. One person, we'll call him/her the "teacher," goes around the room and picks people. The "teacher" picks one person and begins a simile "Love is like a......" the player must finish the simile by stating...."rose." If the player finishes the simile incorrectly, the "teacher" thanks them but gives them the correct ending and moves on. The "teacher" should be fairly well versed in well-known similes so as to be able to accept variations or answers that are close (or even very creative!)

Here are a few well-known similes:

1. Light as a feather
2. Pretty (or proud) as a peacock
3. Strong as an Ox
4. Vast as an ocean
5. Skinny as a rail
6. Free as a bird
7. Quick (of fast) as a wink (or flash)
8. Happy as a lark
9. Sly as a fox
10. Flat as a pancake
11. Wise as an owl
12. Blind as a bat
13. Quiet as a mouse
14. Hairy as an ape
15. Stubborn as a mule
16. Busy as a bee
17. Slippery as an eel (or fish)
18. Sweet as sugar (or honey)
19. Delicate as a flower
20. Playful as a kitten
21. Slow as a snail (or turtle)
22. Clear as a bell
23. Clean as a whistle
24. Crazy as a loon
25. Sharp as a tack (or nail)