汉英中的很多明喻是由成语、谚语或是典故构成的， 在翻译时可以相互借用或是意译。

如：

骨痩如柴 as thin as a shadow; as lean as a rake 

多如牛毛 as plentiful as black berries 

面如莱色 as pale as linen 

极合时宜 as welcome as flowers in May 

熟睡如猪 to sleep like a log 

铁石心肠 as hard as flint 

栩栩如生 as large as life 

凤毛麟角 as scarce as hen's teeth 

有如疯狗 as crazy as a bedbug 

光明正大 as open as the day

—模一样 as like as two peas (in a pod)

高如云天 as high as the stars

—颠一跛 as limp as a glove

as old as Adam远古（诺亚方舟）时代

as keen as mustard 极其热心

as safe as houses 十分安全

as true as steel 极其真实

as soft as a mole 十分柔软

as cold as a frog 十分冷淡

as sick as a dog虚弱多病

as stiff as a poker 十分呆板