Compound Adjectives And Similies
Hello!
Am I right in thinking that many compound adjectives can easily be turned into similes? (i.e. "sharp-witted" = "as sharp as her wit" / "flat-chested" = "as flat as her chest") And if they are turned into similes, they are classed stock phrases if the original compound adjective is idiomatic? And are therefore free to use in writing in the same way that cliches are?
Thanks in advance!
Emma
Top answer
” So your compound adjectives (sharp-witted and flat-chested) are not comparing anything explicitly, they are not similes. However, they are useful words which can be used in good writing. Since sharp-witted and flat-chested use the common dictionary definitions of each component, they are not idioms.
- ” So your compound adjectives (sharp-witted and flat-chested) are not comparing anything explicitly, they are not similes.
- However, they are useful words which can be used in good writing.
- Since sharp-witted and flat-chested use the common dictionary definitions of each component, they are not idioms.
- A cliche is some expression that becomes tired and worn-out from overuse.
- For example, "awesome" to describe something incredibly good is becoming a cliche.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
Here is the definition of a simile:
Simile (noun) a figure of speech in which two unlike things are explicitly compared, as in “she is like a rose.”
So your compound adjectives (sharp-witted and flat-chested) are not comparing anything explicitly, they are not similes. However, they are useful words which can be used in good writing. Since sharp-witted and fla
0
Related Questions