I’ve been busy lately: as busy as a bee, but don’t worry, I’m not stressed, I’m as cool as a cucumber. In fact, I’m as happy as a clam. You can compare someone to something by using the word “as.” We do this with an adjective between “as” twice, followed by a thing to compare to: as busy as a bee. These comparisons can be positive, neutral or negative. It should be clear from the context whether something is a good thing or a bad thing. Example 1: as happy as a clam It’s raining outside, but I have a cup of coffee, a nice book, and a warm blanket. I’m as happy as a clam. Example 2: as quiet as a mouse Jack has been as quiet as a mouse after he was embarrassed giving a speech at school. Example 3: as old as the hills I went for a long ride on my bike yesterday. When I woke up this morning, I felt as old as the hills. Example 4: as strong as an bull/ox Oliver has been working out at the gym all the time. He’s as strong as a bull now—I’m sure he could help you move your piano. Example 5: as cool as a cucumber On the roller coaster, I was so scared. I was sure my friend would be too, but when I looked, he seemed as cool as a cucumber. Example 6: as tough as nails Tina might not be very tall, but she’s as tough as nails. She runs marathons. Example 7: as thick as thieves As teenagers, Caleb and Daniel were as thick as thieves, but they grew apart in their 20’s. Note: If you've read this far, you're interested in the details. So here's a reward for your curiosity: You can drop "as" from the beginning of these expressions: You're cool as a cucumber. This is common in speech. Thanks for listening!