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Describing Qualities - Describing Qualities

Discover how English idioms like "off the rails" and "a sight for sore eyes" relate to describing qualities in English.

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English Idioms used to Describe Qualities
(as|) still as a stone

used to refer to a person or thing that is completely motionless

Ex: The cat sat still as a stone, watching the bird outside the window. 
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(as|) heavy as lead

used to refer to someone or something that is very difficult to lift or move, due to being heavy

Ex: The suitcase was heavy as lead after she packed all her books. 
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(as|) light as a feather

used to refer to someone or something that is very easy to lift and carry, due to having no considerable weight

Ex: The empty suitcase was light as a feather. 
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in the raw
in the raw
[phrase]

(of a thing) in its most natural or true state of existence

Ex: The documentary shows the city in the raw, without music or narration. 
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a sight for sore eyes

a person or thing that is very strange or unattractive in appearance

Ex: That abandoned building is a sight for sore eyes. 
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off the rails

used to say that something is extreme or exciting

Ex: The concert was off the rails from the first song. 
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Old Harry
Old Harry
[noun]

the devil or any character that has similarities to it

Ex: In the old story, Old Harry tempts travelers at the crossroads. 
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snail mail

mail that is delivered physically by the postal system as opposed to email and other electronic means

Ex: The company still sends some documents by snail mail. 
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a bunch of fives

a person's fist

Ex: He held up a bunch of fives and tried to look tough. 
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AWOL
AWOL
[Adjective]

referring to something that is stolen or not in its usual place

Ex: My phone has gone AWOL again. 
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to [get] a hold of {sth}

to find a thing that one was searching for

Ex: I finally got a hold of the old manual. 
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to [lay|get] {one's} hands on {sth}

to succeed in obtaining something

Ex: I finally got my hands on a copy of that rare album. 
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up for grabs
up for grabs
[phrase]

ready to be used or obtained

Ex: The last two seats are up for grabs. 
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to [go] spare
to go spare
[phrase]

to be available for use only due to being unwanted

Ex: There are two sandwiches going spare if anyone is hungry. 
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crystal clear
crystal clear
[Adjective]

(of an object) clear or thin enough for one to be able to see through it

Ex: The lake was crystal clear, and we could see the stones at the bottom. 
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old school
old school
[phrase]

adhering to traditional values, methods, or styles

Ex: The cafe has an old school design, with wooden booths and a handwritten menu. 
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knee-high to a grasshopper

extremely or unusually small in size or importance

Ex: The puppy was knee-high to a grasshopper, but it barked like a guard dog. 
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(as|) pretty as a picture

very appealing to the eyes

Ex: The cottage looked pretty as a picture with roses around the door. 
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(as|) silent as the grave

used to refer to a place that is completely silent or quiet, with no noise or sound at all

Ex: The library was silent as the grave after closing time. 
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(as|) American as apple pie

used of someone or something that is seen or considered very normal in America

Ex: The small-town parade felt as American as apple pie. 
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to [look] as if {sb} slept in {one's} clothes

to look messy, wrinkled, or poorly dressed

Ex: He looked as if he had slept in his clothes. 
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along the line of {sth}

in alignment with a specific path, course, or set of guidelines within a given context or framework

Ex: The changes were made along the line of the new safety rules. 
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