Everyone gets dirty sometimes. You might get muddy while playing outside or spill something on your shirt. When we talk about being dirty, we don’t always say it in a plain way. Sometimes, we use similes. A simile compares two things using the words “like” or “as.” These comparisons help us understand ideas better, and they can also make talking more fun.
This article shares 28 similes that describe different ways someone or something can be dirty. You’ll see how being messy can be compared to animals, food, or things around the house. These examples will help you learn new ways to describe dirt in a fun and clear way. Let’s take a look!
Similes About Dirty
1. As dirty as a pig in mud
Meaning: Very messy or covered in mud
Example Sentence:
• After the soccer game, Jack was as dirty as a pig in mud.
• The dog came in from the yard as dirty as a pig in mud.
Other ways to say: Covered in muck, super muddy
Fun Fact/Origin: Pigs roll in mud to stay cool, which makes them very dirty.
Usage: Used when someone is extremely muddy or messy.
2. As messy as a trash can
Meaning: Extremely unclean and cluttered
Example Sentence:
• His bedroom was as messy as a trash can after a sleepover.
• The playroom looked as messy as a trash can.
Other ways to say: A big mess, a disaster zone
Fun Fact/Origin: Trash cans are known for holding all kinds of waste.
Usage: Used to describe very untidy spaces.
3. Like a dust storm hit it
Meaning: Covered in dust and dirt
Example Sentence:
• The garage looked like a dust storm hit it.
• Her bookshelf was so dusty, it looked like a dust storm hit it.
Other ways to say: Dusty, needs a good cleaning
Fun Fact/Origin: Dust storms happen in dry places and leave everything coated in dirt.
Usage: Used for places that are dusty or haven’t been cleaned.
4. As stained as a painter’s shirt
Meaning: Covered in spots or marks
Example Sentence:
• His jeans were as stained as a painter’s shirt.
• The tablecloth looked as stained as a painter’s shirt.
Other ways to say: Blotchy, marked up
Fun Fact/Origin: Painters often get paint all over their clothes while working.
Usage: Used for things that are stained or spotted.
5. As grimy as an old coin
Meaning: Covered in thick dirt or grime
Example Sentence:
• The kitchen sink was as grimy as an old coin.
• Her hands were as grimy as an old coin after gardening.
Other ways to say: Filthy, very dirty
Fun Fact/Origin: Coins collect dirt from years of use and being touched.
Usage: Used for surfaces or objects that feel greasy or sticky with dirt.
6. As sticky as spilled soda
Meaning: Dirty and sticky to touch
Example Sentence:
• The floor was as sticky as spilled soda after the party.
• His desk was as sticky as spilled soda.
Other ways to say: Gummy, tacky
Fun Fact/Origin: Soda has sugar, and when it dries, it becomes very sticky.
Usage: Used to describe something that’s dirty and sticky.
7. Like a plate that’s never been washed
Meaning: Very unclean or full of old food
Example Sentence:
• The lunchbox looked like a plate that’s never been washed.
• His water bottle smelled like a plate that’s never been washed.
Other ways to say: Nasty, needs washing
Fun Fact/Origin: Unwashed plates can grow bacteria and smell bad.
Usage: Used for dirty dishes or food containers.
8. As dusty as an attic
Meaning: Covered in thick layers of dust
Example Sentence:
• The bookshelf was as dusty as an attic.
• Her old toys were as dusty as an attic.
Other ways to say: Very dusty, full of dirt
Fun Fact/Origin: Attics are not cleaned often, so they get very dusty.
Usage: Used when something hasn’t been cleaned in a long time.
9. As smelly as old gym socks
Meaning: Has a strong, bad odor
Example Sentence:
• His shoes were as smelly as old gym socks.
• The locker room was as smelly as old gym socks.
Other ways to say: Stinky, awful-smelling
Fun Fact/Origin: Sweaty socks can smell terrible if left too long.
Usage: Used when something smells very bad.
10. As gross as a clogged drain
Meaning: Very dirty and disgusting
Example Sentence:
• The sink was as gross as a clogged drain.
• The bathroom was as gross as a clogged drain.
Other ways to say: Yucky, nasty
Fun Fact/Origin: Clogged drains can be filled with hair, soap, and grime.
Usage: Used when something is dirty and hard to look at.
11. As filthy as a sewer
Meaning: Extremely dirty and smelly
Example Sentence:
• The alley was as filthy as a sewer.
• His socks were as filthy as a sewer after hiking.
Other ways to say: Nasty, disgusting
Fun Fact/Origin: Sewers carry waste and are usually full of germs and bad smells.
Usage: Used for very dirty and smelly places or things.
12. As muddy as a swamp
Meaning: Full of wet dirt or mud
Example Sentence:
• Their boots were as muddy as a swamp.
• The backyard was as muddy as a swamp after the rain.
Other ways to say: Sloppy, soaked with mud
Fun Fact/Origin: Swamps are wet areas often filled with muddy ground.
Usage: Used to describe places or things covered in mud.
13. As crusty as a burnt pan
Meaning: Hard and dirty on the surface
Example Sentence:
• The dishes were as crusty as a burnt pan.
• Her lunchbox was as crusty as a burnt pan after a week.
Other ways to say: Caked-on, tough to clean
Fun Fact/Origin: Burnt food sticks to pans, making them very hard to scrub.
Usage: Used when something has hardened dirt or grime on it.
14. As stained as a coffee mug
Meaning: Marked or dirty from use
Example Sentence:
• The sink was as stained as a coffee mug.
• His shirt looked as stained as a coffee mug left too long.
Other ways to say: Blotched, discolored
Fun Fact/Origin: Coffee can leave brown rings inside mugs after time.
Usage: Used to describe old or marked items.
15. Like a floor at a fast food restaurant
Meaning: Sticky and messy
Example Sentence:
• After the party, the kitchen floor was like a floor at a fast food restaurant.
• His shoes were squeaky, like walking on a fast food floor.
Other ways to say: Slippery, gross
Fun Fact/Origin: Fast food places get messy quickly from spills and crumbs.
Usage: Used to describe sticky, food-covered surfaces.
16. As greasy as a pizza box
Meaning: Oily and dirty
Example Sentence:
• His hands were as greasy as a pizza box.
• The napkin felt as greasy as a pizza box.
Other ways to say: Slippery, oily
Fun Fact/Origin: Pizza boxes often have grease spots that never go away.
Usage: Used when something feels oily or slick from dirt.
17. As messy as finger painting day
Meaning: Very untidy, especially with colors or goo
Example Sentence:
• The table was as messy as finger painting day.
• Her shirt was as messy as finger painting day after art class.
Other ways to say: Covered in colors, stained
Fun Fact/Origin: Kids love finger painting, but it often gets all over the place.
Usage: Used to describe colorful or paint-covered messes.
18. As gunky as a glue bottle cap
Meaning: Sticky and gross with dried-up dirt or glue
Example Sentence:
• The toothpaste cap was as gunky as a glue bottle cap.
• The ketchup lid was as gunky as a glue bottle cap.
Other ways to say: Clogged, sticky
Fun Fact/Origin: Glue caps often get thick and crusty from dried glue.
Usage: Used when something has thick, sticky buildup.
19. As crusty as dried-up mud
Meaning: Hard and flaky dirt
Example Sentence:
• His pants were as crusty as dried-up mud after baseball practice.
• Her shoes were as crusty as dried-up mud.
Other ways to say: Flaky, cracked
Fun Fact/Origin: Mud hardens and cracks when it dries in the sun.
Usage: Used for dirt that’s dried and stuck on.
20. As smudged as a chalkboard
Meaning: Covered in smears or unclear marks
Example Sentence:
• Her glasses were as smudged as a chalkboard.
• His phone screen was as smudged as a chalkboard after lunch.
Other ways to say: Blurry, dirty
Fun Fact/Origin: Chalkboards get cloudy and smudgy when erased over and over.
Usage: Used to describe dirty surfaces with smears.
21. Like a toddler after snack time
Meaning: Dirty with food or spills
Example Sentence:
• His shirt looked like a toddler after snack time.
• The couch was a mess, like a toddler after snack time.
Other ways to say: Crumb-covered, sticky
Fun Fact/Origin: Little kids often spill snacks or wipe hands on their clothes.
Usage: Used for messes involving food or young kids.
22. As sticky as melted candy
Meaning: Very sticky and hard to clean
Example Sentence:
• The armrest was as sticky as melted candy.
• His fingers were as sticky as melted candy after Halloween.
Other ways to say: Gooey, tacky
Fun Fact/Origin: Candy melts and becomes gluey when left in heat.
Usage: Used to describe sugary, sticky messes.
23. As smelly as a garbage truck
Meaning: Strong and bad odor
Example Sentence:
• The kitchen smelled as smelly as a garbage truck.
• His backpack was as smelly as a garbage truck after gym class.
Other ways to say: Stinks, smells bad
Fun Fact/Origin: Garbage trucks pick up all kinds of waste, making them smell awful.
Usage: Used when something smells really unpleasant.
24. Like a diaper pail
Meaning: Very stinky and unpleasant
Example Sentence:
• The bathroom smelled like a diaper pail.
• His laundry bag was like a diaper pail.
Other ways to say: Gross, needs cleaning
Fun Fact/Origin: Diaper pails hold dirty diapers, which smell strongly.
Usage: Used for very smelly things, often at home.
25. As grimy as a subway pole
Meaning: Covered with unseen dirt and germs
Example Sentence:
• Her phone was as grimy as a subway pole.
• His hands were as grimy as a subway pole after recess.
Other ways to say: Germy, needs wiping
Fun Fact/Origin: Subway poles are touched by many people daily.
Usage: Used for things that feel dirty from use.
26. As stained as a ketchup packet
Meaning: Marked with red or oily spots
Example Sentence:
• His hoodie was as stained as a ketchup packet.
• The tablecloth was as stained as a ketchup packet.
Other ways to say: Spotted, dirty
Fun Fact/Origin: Ketchup often leaks and leaves red marks behind.
Usage: Used for things marked with food stains.
27. As gross as moldy bread
Meaning: Really unpleasant and possibly smelly
Example Sentence:
• The leftovers were as gross as moldy bread.
• His lunchbox was as gross as moldy bread.
Other ways to say: Rotten, spoiled
Fun Fact/Origin: Mold grows on old bread, turning it green or fuzzy.
Usage: Used for old or spoiled food.
28. Like shoes after a muddy hike
Meaning: Caked in dirt and hard to clean
Example Sentence:
• His sneakers looked like shoes after a muddy hike.
• The hallway floor looked like shoes after a muddy hike.
Other ways to say: Dirty, tracked in mud
Fun Fact/Origin: Hiking in wet places usually ends with very muddy shoes.
Usage: Used when something is dirty from walking outside.
Quiz: Similes About Dirty
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
1. What does “as dirty as a pig in mud” mean?
A) Very tired
B) Very clean
C) Very messy and muddy
2. If a shirt is “as stained as a coffee mug,” what does that mean?
A) It is brand new
B) It has lots of marks on it
C) It smells good
3. What does “like a dust storm hit it” describe?
A) A neat, clean room
B) A room full of dust and mess
C) A quiet space
4. If someone’s shoes are “as muddy as a swamp,” what does it mean?
A) Their shoes are dry
B) Their shoes are very muddy
C) Their shoes are colorful
5. What does “as greasy as a pizza box” mean?
A) The item is neat and tidy
B) The item is oily and dirty
C) The item is full of cheese
6. If a place is “as smelly as old gym socks,” how does it smell?
A) Clean and fresh
B) Like flowers
C) Very bad and stinky
7. What does “as sticky as spilled soda” mean?
A) It is wet and sweet
B) It is hard and dry
C) It feels sticky and dirty
8. What does it mean if something is “as gross as a clogged drain”?
A) It is fun to play with
B) It is very dirty and yucky
C) It is full of clean water
9. If a room is “as messy as finger painting day,” what does that describe?
A) A well-organized space
B) A colorful but very messy space
C) A place for quiet reading
10. What does “as crusty as dried-up mud” mean?
A) Very soft and smooth
B) Full of hard, dry dirt
C) Washed and clean
11. If your hands are “as grimy as a subway pole,” how do they feel?
A) Clean and dry
B) Dirty and sticky
C) Soft and smooth
12. What does “like a toddler after snack time” mean?
A) Clean and quiet
B) Sleepy and calm
C) Dirty with food and crumbs
Answer Key
- C) Very messy and muddy
- B) It has lots of marks on it
- B) A room full of dust and mess
- B) Their shoes are very muddy
- B) The item is oily and dirty
- C) Very bad and stinky
- C) It feels sticky and dirty
- B) It is very dirty and yucky
- B) A colorful but very messy space
- B) Full of hard, dry dirt
- B) Dirty and sticky
- C) Dirty with food and crumbs
Wrapping Up
Similes make language more fun and easier to understand. When something is dirty, we can describe it in many creative ways using similes. These phrases help us paint a picture with words. The next time you see a mess, try using one of these similes to describe it. It makes talking and writing more interesting—and maybe even a little funny!
