Sometimes, when we want to say something is really big, just using the word “big” doesn’t feel like enough. That’s why people use similes. Similes are fun ways to compare one thing to another using the words “like” or “as.” They help us picture how big something really is.
This article will explore different similes people use to describe big things. These similes make it easier to imagine size in a creative way. You’ll see how everyday things—like elephants or skyscrapers—help explain size in ways that are easy to understand and fun to learn.
Similes for Big
1. As big as an elephant
Meaning: Very large
Example Sentence:
- That truck is as big as an elephant.
- His backpack looked as big as an elephant.
Other ways to say: Huge, enormous
Fun Fact/Origin: Elephants are the largest land animals.
Usage: Used to describe something large in size or appearance.
2. As big as a house
Meaning: Really large or oversized
Example Sentence:
- His shoes are as big as a house.
- That pizza was as big as a house.
Other ways to say: Gigantic, massive
Fun Fact/Origin: Houses are easy-to-visualize large objects.
Usage: Used when something seems too large to be normal.
3. Like a giant’s footstep
Meaning: Very big and heavy
Example Sentence:
- The sound was loud, like a giant’s footstep.
- The hole in the ground looked like a giant’s footstep.
Other ways to say: Huge impact, large mark
Fun Fact/Origin: Giants are often used in stories to show size.
Usage: Used for loud noises or large impressions.
4. As big as a mountain
Meaning: Extremely large
Example Sentence:
- That pile of laundry is as big as a mountain.
- The sandwich was as big as a mountain.
Other ways to say: Towering, vast
Fun Fact/Origin: Mountains are some of the biggest things in nature.
Usage: Used to exaggerate the size of things.
5. Like a whale in a bathtub
Meaning: Way too big for the space
Example Sentence:
- That dog looked like a whale in a bathtub.
- The couch is like a whale in a bathtub in our small room.
Other ways to say: Doesn’t fit, too large
Fun Fact/Origin: Whales are huge sea animals, and a bathtub is very small.
Usage: Used when something is too large for where it is.
6. As big as a barn
Meaning: Really large and wide
Example Sentence:
- That dog is as big as a barn.
- The suitcase was as big as a barn.
Other ways to say: Huge, bulky
Fun Fact/Origin: Barns are large farm buildings.
Usage: Used for describing big animals or objects.
7. Like a balloon about to pop
Meaning: Very full or swollen
Example Sentence:
- His stomach was like a balloon about to pop after dinner.
- The bag was like a balloon about to pop.
Other ways to say: Overstuffed, filled to the top
Fun Fact/Origin: Balloons expand a lot before they pop.
Usage: Used to describe things that are very full or tight.
8. As big as a school bus
Meaning: Large and long
Example Sentence:
- The cake was as big as a school bus.
- That fish was almost as big as a school bus.
Other ways to say: Long, oversized
Fun Fact/Origin: School buses are familiar large vehicles in the U.S.
Usage: Often used to describe long or large things.
9. Like a parade float
Meaning: Large and showy
Example Sentence:
- Her dress was like a parade float.
- The decorations looked like a parade float.
Other ways to say: Flashy, huge
Fun Fact/Origin: Parade floats are built to stand out and are very large.
Usage: Used for things that are large and attention-getting.
10. As big as a football field
Meaning: Extremely large in space
Example Sentence:
- The park was as big as a football field.
- Their yard felt as big as a football field.
Other ways to say: Wide, spread-out
Fun Fact/Origin: A football field is 100 yards long.
Usage: Used for flat, open spaces.
11. Like a bear in a birdcage
Meaning: Too big for the space
Example Sentence:
- He looked like a bear in a birdcage in that tiny chair.
- That van looks like a bear in a birdcage in the small garage.
Other ways to say: Cramped, oversized
Fun Fact/Origin: Bears are huge; birdcages are tiny.
Usage: For things that don’t fit well in a space.
12. As big as a hot air balloon
Meaning: Giant and floating
Example Sentence:
- That cloud looks as big as a hot air balloon.
- His hat was as big as a hot air balloon.
Other ways to say: Puffy, large
Fun Fact/Origin: Hot air balloons are large and high in the sky.
Usage: For round, puffy, or high objects.
13. Like a truck in a toy box
Meaning: Too big for a small space
Example Sentence:
- That table is like a truck in a toy box in this room.
- His bed is like a truck in a toy box.
Other ways to say: Doesn’t fit, oversized
Fun Fact/Origin: A toy box is small; a truck is large and heavy.
Usage: Used for things that don’t belong in a tiny place.
14. As big as a Thanksgiving turkey
Meaning: Very large, especially for food
Example Sentence:
- That chicken is as big as a Thanksgiving turkey.
- My sandwich was as big as a Thanksgiving turkey.
Other ways to say: Huge meal, giant food
Fun Fact/Origin: Thanksgiving turkeys in the U.S. are often quite large.
Usage: Used when describing large portions or food.
15. Like a boat in a bathtub
Meaning: Way too big for the area
Example Sentence:
- That dog in the kiddie pool looked like a boat in a bathtub.
- The couch is like a boat in a bathtub in that small room.
Other ways to say: Doesn’t belong, too large
Fun Fact/Origin: Boats are meant for oceans, not bathtubs.
Usage: Used when something feels oddly out of place due to size.
16. As big as a giant pumpkin
Meaning: Very large and round
Example Sentence:
- Her backpack was as big as a giant pumpkin.
- That snowball is as big as a giant pumpkin.
Other ways to say: Bulky, round
Fun Fact/Origin: Giant pumpkins can weigh over 1,000 pounds.
Usage: For round and heavy things.
17. Like a moose in a mini car
Meaning: Very large in a small space
Example Sentence:
- He looked like a moose in a mini car.
- That suitcase is like a moose in a mini car in the closet.
Other ways to say: Cramped, huge
Fun Fact/Origin: Moose are big animals found in parts of the U.S.
Usage: Used for things that don’t fit well.
18. As big as the sky
Meaning: Extremely large or endless
Example Sentence:
- Her dreams are as big as the sky.
- The open field looked as big as the sky.
Other ways to say: Wide open, limitless
Fun Fact/Origin: The sky is often used to show how big or open something feels.
Usage: Often used for abstract things like dreams or feelings.
19. Like a drum in a dollhouse
Meaning: Clearly too big for its surroundings
Example Sentence:
- That speaker looks like a drum in a dollhouse.
- His desk is like a drum in a dollhouse.
Other ways to say: Unmatched, oversized
Fun Fact/Origin: Dollhouses are miniature, so most real things are huge inside them.
Usage: Used when something seems out of place due to its size.
20. As big as a polar bear
Meaning: Large and strong
Example Sentence:
- That coat is as big as a polar bear.
- His winter boots were as big as a polar bear.
Other ways to say: Massive, strong
Fun Fact/Origin: Polar bears are the biggest bear species.
Usage: Used to show both size and weight.
21. As big as a garage
Meaning: Very large or wide
Example Sentence:
- That box is as big as a garage.
- Her suitcase looked as big as a garage.
Other ways to say: Spacious, huge
Fun Fact/Origin: Garages are built to hold cars, so they’re wide and roomy.
Usage: Describes objects that are large and boxy.
22. Like a pancake on a pizza
Meaning: Something large sitting on something even larger
Example Sentence:
- That plate on the tray looked like a pancake on a pizza.
- His foot on that skateboard looked like a pancake on a pizza.
Other ways to say: Flat and wide
Fun Fact/Origin: Pancakes and pizzas are both round and flat—good for comparison.
Usage: Describes flat, large shapes.
23. As big as a cruise ship
Meaning: Extremely large and long
Example Sentence:
- That hotel is as big as a cruise ship.
- The building looked as big as a cruise ship.
Other ways to say: Long, enormous
Fun Fact/Origin: Cruise ships can be longer than three football fields.
Usage: Describes large buildings or vehicles.
24. Like a watermelon on a dinner plate
Meaning: Much too big for the space it’s in
Example Sentence:
- That burger looked like a watermelon on a dinner plate.
- Her stack of books was like a watermelon on a dinner plate.
Other ways to say: Too large to fit
Fun Fact/Origin: A watermelon is round and heavy—hard to balance on something small.
Usage: Describes things that are large and out of place.
25. As big as a skyscraper
Meaning: Very tall and large
Example Sentence:
- That pile of homework looks as big as a skyscraper.
- His hat was as big as a skyscraper.
Other ways to say: Towering, high
Fun Fact/Origin: Skyscrapers are some of the tallest buildings in cities.
Usage: Used for height and extreme size.
26. Like a lion in a pet bed
Meaning: Something way too big for its spot
Example Sentence:
- That grown-up sitting in the tiny chair looked like a lion in a pet bed.
- The car in that tight parking spot looked like a lion in a pet bed.
Other ways to say: Out of place, too large
Fun Fact/Origin: Lions are huge animals—far too big for anything made for small pets.
Usage: For size mismatches.
27. As big as a jumbo jet
Meaning: Massive in size
Example Sentence:
- That parade float was as big as a jumbo jet.
- His kite was as big as a jumbo jet.
Other ways to say: Huge, large-scale
Fun Fact/Origin: Jumbo jets are among the largest planes used today.
Usage: Used for big moving things.
28. Like a boulder on a balance beam
Meaning: Very big and heavy for a small spot
Example Sentence:
- That speaker on the shelf looked like a boulder on a balance beam.
- The dog on that little rug looked like a boulder on a balance beam.
Other ways to say: Heavy, doesn’t fit
Fun Fact/Origin: Boulders are heavy rocks—dangerous on narrow spaces.
Usage: Shows awkward size and weight.
29. As big as a movie screen
Meaning: Really wide and tall
Example Sentence:
- His grin was as big as a movie screen.
- The window was as big as a movie screen.
Other ways to say: Broad, stretched
Fun Fact/Origin: Movie screens are made to be seen by lots of people—so they’re big.
Usage: Often used for things that spread wide.
30. Like a truckload of marshmallows
Meaning: Big and soft
Example Sentence:
- That sofa looks like a truckload of marshmallows.
- The bed was like a truckload of marshmallows.
Other ways to say: Cushy, soft but big
Fun Fact/Origin: A truckload is a lot; marshmallows are fluffy. Together, they show size and softness.
Usage: Used for soft, oversized items.
31. As big as a volcano
Meaning: Large and powerful
Example Sentence:
- That science project was as big as a volcano.
- His model mountain looked as big as a volcano.
Other ways to say: Tall, powerful
Fun Fact/Origin: Volcanoes can reach thousands of feet high.
Usage: Describes strong or towering things.
32. Like a hippo in a kiddie pool
Meaning: Clearly too large for the space
Example Sentence:
- That inflatable toy is like a hippo in a kiddie pool.
- The new bed looks like a hippo in a kiddie pool in her room.
Other ways to say: Oversized, cramped
Fun Fact/Origin: Hippos are huge—kiddie pools are not.
Usage: Funny way to show something too big.
33. As big as a pile of pillows
Meaning: Big and fluffy
Example Sentence:
- That puppy is as big as a pile of pillows.
- The bean bag chair looked as big as a pile of pillows.
Other ways to say: Fluffy, huggable
Fun Fact/Origin: Pillows pile up into soft mounds—great for big but comfy things.
Usage: Describes soft, stacked, or comfy items.
34. Like a blimp over a backyard
Meaning: Way too big for the area
Example Sentence:
- The balloon at the party looked like a blimp over a backyard.
- That drone is like a blimp over a backyard.
Other ways to say: Too big, noticeable
Fun Fact/Origin: Blimps are airships used in ads and games—very big and slow.
Usage: Used for oversized flying or floating things.
35. As big as a pile of snow after a storm
Meaning: Very tall or wide
Example Sentence:
- That stack of books is as big as a pile of snow after a storm.
- The clothes in his room were as big as a pile of snow after a storm.
Other ways to say: Tall, stacked
Fun Fact/Origin: Snow piles grow fast after a big storm.
Usage: Used when there’s a lot of something in one place.
Quiz: Similes for Big
Instructions: Choose the correct meaning for each simile. Each question has one correct answer. Use what you’ve learned from the similes to find the best choice.
Question Key
1. What does “as big as an elephant” mean?
A) Very small
B) Very large
C) Very quiet
2. If someone says, “That box is as big as a garage,” what do they mean?
A) The box is heavy.
B) The box is hard to carry.
C) The box is very large.
3. “Like a whale in a bathtub” means something is:
A) Too big for its space
B) Just the right size
C) Very clean
4. What does “as big as a football field” describe?
A) Something long and flat
B) Something full of grass
C) Something you can run on
5. If a dog is “like a bear in a birdcage,” how does it look?
A) Sleepy and calm
B) Big and out of place
C) Small and cute
6. What does “as big as a mountain” help you imagine?
A) Something tiny
B) Something flat
C) Something huge
7. “Like a parade float” is used when something is:
A) Small and quiet
B) Large and flashy
C) Lost and sad
8. If a toy looks “like a truck in a toy box,” what’s the meaning?
A) The toy is broken
B) The toy is small
C) The toy is way too big
9. What does “as big as a hot air balloon” suggest?
A) The thing is cold
B) The thing is colorful
C) The thing is big and floats
10. “Like a hippo in a kiddie pool” shows that:
A) The hippo is happy
B) Something doesn’t fit because it’s too big
C) The pool is deep
Answer Key
- B) Very large
- C) The box is very large
- A) Too big for its space
- A) Something long and flat
- B) Big and out of place
- C) Something huge
- B) Large and flashy
- C) The toy is way too big
- C) The thing is big and floats
- B) Something doesn’t fit because it’s too big
Wrapping Up
Similes help us show how big something is in a fun and easy way. Instead of just saying “large,” we use pictures in our mind—like elephants, mountains, and trucks. These ideas make writing more colorful and easier to understand.
When you want to show that something is super big, try using one of these similes. It will help people imagine it better and make your writing more interesting.
