Similes are fun figures of speech that compare two different things using the words like or as. People use them to make their writing and speaking much more descriptive and exciting to read. In this article, you are going to learn sixty wonderful similes that describe a bad friend, a selfish person, or someone who is untrustworthy.
In this lesson, we’ll look at similes for bad friends that mean unhelpful, disloyal, and sneaky. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Similes for Bad Friends
1. As slippery as an eel
Meaning: This means someone who cannot be trusted and always tries to wiggle out of trouble.
For Example: He promised to help with the project, but he acted as slippery as an eel when it was time to work. / You can never pin down his plans because he is as slippery as an eel.
Other Ways to Say: Slick liar / Hard to trust
2. Like a wolf in sheep’s clothing
Description: This describes a person who pretends to be nice on the outside but is mean on the inside.
For Example: She smiled in your face and then spread rumors like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. / Beware of people who act sweet like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Other Ways to Say: Fake friend / Hidden enemy
3. As cold as ice
Meaning: This means someone who does not care about your feelings and treats you with no warmth.
For Example: When she walked past him without saying hello, her attitude was as cold as ice. / His unfeeling response to her bad news was as cold as ice.
Other Ways to Say: Icy manner / Unfeeling heart
4. Like a shadow that disappears in the dark
Description: This describes a fair-weather friend who leaves you alone the moment trouble starts.
For Example: When the sports team started losing, he vanished like a shadow that disappears in the dark. / She was nowhere to be found when I needed help, acting like a shadow that disappears in the dark.
Other Ways to Say: Fair-weather friend / Missing partner
5. As poisonous as a snake
Meaning: This means a person whose mean words and actions can hurt you deeply.
For Example: Her nasty gossip about classmates was as poisonous as a snake. / You should stay away from people whose talk is as poisonous as a snake.
Other Ways to Say: Toxic person / Venomous words
6. Like a fair-weather sailor
Description: This describes someone who only stays friendly when things are fun and easy.
For Example: He only hangs out when we go to the amusement park like a fair-weather sailor. / When homework gets tough, she disappears like a fair-weather sailor.
Other Ways to Say: Quick quitter / Unreliable pal
7. As false as a glass coin
Meaning: This means someone whose promises and friendship are completely fake.
For Example: His promise to share his trading cards turned out to be as false as a glass coin. / You cannot believe a single word she says because she is as false as a glass coin.
Other Ways to Say: Completely fake / Untrue friend
8. Like a thorn in your side
Description: This describes an annoying person who causes constant trouble and irritation.
For Example: He kept teasing everyone during recess like a thorn in your side. / Her constant complaining made her feel like a thorn in your side.
Other Ways to Say: Constant annoyance / Pestering pest
9. As sharp as a brier
Meaning: This means someone who hurts your feelings with sharp, biting remarks.
For Example: Her unkind comments during lunch were as sharp as a brier. / You have to watch what you say around him because his tongue is as sharp as a brier.
Other Ways to Say: Hurtful remarks / Cutting words
10. Like a broken promise
Description: This describes a person who constantly lets you down and breaks their word.
For Example: Relying on him for the group project felt like a broken promise. / Her friendship turned out to be like a broken promise.
Other Ways to Say: Letdown pal / Unreliable friend
11. As bitter as gall
Meaning: This means someone who holds deep grudges and acts sour toward others.
For Example: His attitude after losing the game was as bitter as gall. / She stayed mad at her classmates for weeks, acting as bitter as gall.
Other Ways to Say: Deeply sour / Grumpy soul
12. Like a leech on your arm
Description: This describes a selfish person who only hangs around to take your things or use your stuff.
For Example: He only borrows your toys and never shares, sticking around like a leech on your arm. / She takes your snacks every day like a leech on your arm.
Other Ways to Say: Sticky user / Greedy taker
13. As shallow as a puddle
Meaning: This means someone who has no real loyalty or deep care for others.
For Example: Their friendship broke apart over a tiny argument because it was as shallow as a puddle. / You cannot count on deep support from someone as shallow as a puddle.
Other Ways to Say: Lacking depth / Fickle friend
14. Like a sinking ship
Description: This describes a bad group or friendship that is bound to crash and fail.
For Example: Staying close to that dramatic group of kids feels like being on a sinking ship. / Get away from that bad crowd before you go down like a sinking ship.
Other Ways to Say: Failing bond / Collapsing group
15. As heavy as an anchor
Meaning: This means a negative friend who drags down your mood and happiness.
For Example: Being around his constant complaining felt as heavy as an anchor. / Her gloomy attitude weighed on the group as heavy as an anchor.
Other Ways to Say: Mood dragger / Heavy burden
16. Like a thunderstorm on a picnic
Description: This describes an unpleasant person who ruins everyone’s happy mood.
For Example: His rude jokes at the party arrived like a thunderstorm on a picnic. / She walked into the room and ruined the fun like a thunderstorm on a picnic.
Other Ways to Say: Joy spoiler / Party ruiner
17. As sour as vinegar
Meaning: This means a grumpy person who always complains and ruins the fun.
For Example: The grumpy neighbor acted as sour as vinegar when kids played outside. / Her mood turned as sour as vinegar when she did not get her way.
Other Ways to Say: Grumpy grouch / Bitter mood
18. Like a two-faced coin
Description: This describes someone who acts nice to your face and talks behind your back.
For Example: You never know what he really thinks because he is like a two-faced coin. / Her gossiping habits proved she was like a two-faced coin.
Other Ways to Say: Backstabber / Two sides
19. As dry as dust
Meaning: This means someone who is boring, uncaring, and completely lifeless as a friend.
For Example: Conversations with him about your feelings are as dry as dust. / Her lack of care for your problems left the friendship as dry as dust.
Other Ways to Say: Lifeless pal / Boring company
20. Like a fox in the henhouse
Description: This describes a sneaky person who tricks you and takes advantage of your kindness.
For Example: We trusted him with the secret club box, but he took the supplies like a fox in the henhouse. / Letting him plan the party was like letting a fox in the henhouse.
Other Ways to Say: Sneaky intruder / Trust breaker
21. As hard as flint
Meaning: This means a person who has no sympathy or forgiveness for mistakes.
For Example: When you apologize, his heart remains as hard as flint. / She refused to give her classmate a second chance, acting as hard as flint.
Other Ways to Say: Unforgiving heart / Stern soul
22. Like a broken clock
Description: This describes an unreliable person who is never there when you need them.
For Example: Asking him to meet you on time works about as well as a broken clock. / Her promises of help are as reliable as a broken clock.
Other Ways to Say: Useless help / Never on time
23. As wild as a runaway train
Meaning: This means a reckless friend who drags you into trouble without caring.
For Example: Following his silly rule-breaking ideas is like riding a runaway train. / He acts as wild as a runaway train and causes trouble at school.
Other Ways to Say: Reckless pal / Out of control
24. Like a shadow in a cave
Description: This describes a mysterious, sneaky person you can never truly figure out.
For Example: He hides his true intentions from his classmates like a shadow in a cave. / You can never tell what she is plotting because she acts like a shadow in a cave.
Other Ways to Say: Mysterious loner / Sneaky hideout
25. As sharp as glass shards
Meaning: This means someone whose insults cut you deeply and leave bad memories.
For Example: His cruel remarks about her artwork were as sharp as glass shards. / Words spoken by an angry rival can be as sharp as glass shards.
Other Ways to Say: Cutting insult / Jagged words
26. Like a ghost that haunts you
Description: This describes an annoying former friend who keeps bothering you after a fallout.
For Example: Even after stopping our friendship, he kept showing up like a ghost that haunts you. / Her silly drama lingered around like a ghost that haunts you.
Other Ways to Say: Bothering ghost / Lingering pest
27. As light as a feather when responsibilities call
Meaning: This means someone who disappears instantly when there is actual work to do.
For Example: When it was time to clean the art supplies, he became as light as a feather and vanished. / She promised to help pack boxes, but her reliability was as light as a feather.
Other Ways to Say: Quick runner / Vanishing helper
28. Like a wolf howling at the moon
Description: This describes a loud, dramatic person who loves to complain and cause a scene.
For Example: Whenever things do not go his way, he makes a big fuss like a wolf howling at the moon. / She complained about the seating chart like a wolf howling at the moon.
Other Ways toSay: Loud complainer / Dramatic fuss
29. As bitter as wormwood
Meaning: This means someone whose unkind attitude leaves a terrible feeling in your heart.
For Example: The harsh betrayal by her best friend tasted as bitter as wormwood. / His nasty attitude left the group feeling as bitter as wormwood.
Other Ways toSay: Deep betrayal / Harsh feeling
30. Like a weed in a garden
Description: This describes a toxic person who crowds out all the good relationships around you.
For Example: That negative bully grew into our friend group like a weed in a garden. / Pulling toxic people out of your life is like clearing weeds in a garden.
Other Ways to Say: Toxic invader / Unwanted weed
31. As blind as a mole to other people’s feelings
Meaning: This means a selfish friend who never notices how much they hurt you.
For Example: He made mean jokes without caring, as blind as a mole to other people’s feelings. / She ignored her crying friend, acting as blind as a mole to other people’s feelings.
Other Ways to Say: Clueless friend / Selfish blind spot
32. Like a rolling stone with no roots
Description: This describes an uncommitted person who drops friends easily and moves on.
For Example: He changes friend groups every week like a rolling stone with no roots. / You cannot build a long bond with someone who moves like a rolling stone with no roots.
Other Ways to Say: Fickle friend / Unattached drifter
33. As cold as winter frost
Meaning: This means someone who shuts you out and gives you the silent treatment.
For Example: When she got mad, her stare became as cold as winter frost. / His greeting in the hallway was as cold as winter frost.
Other Ways to Say: Icy glare / Frozen greeting
34. Like a heavy storm cloud over the playground
Description: This describes a gloomy, pessimistic friend who ruins everyone’s good time.
For Example: He walked over to our game carrying a mood like a heavy storm cloud over the playground. / Her complaints hung over the lunch table like a heavy storm cloud over the playground.
Other Ways to Say: Gloomy mood / Rainmaker
35. As false as counterfeit money
Meaning: This means a fake friend who pretends to care just to get favors.
For Example: His offers of friendship turned out to be as false as counterfeit money. / Do not trust someone whose loyalty is as false as counterfeit money.
Other Ways to Say: Fake loyalty / Counterfeit pal
36. Like a crumbling wall
Description: This describes an unstable friendship that falls apart at the slightest pressure.
For Example: Their argument over a video game made their bond crack like a crumbling wall. / That weak friendship stood like a crumbling wall during hard times.
Other Ways to Say: Weak bond / Fragile friendship
37. As stubborn as a mule in an argument
Meaning: This means a selfish friend who refuses to listen or admit when they are wrong.
For Example: Even when he broke the toy, he stayed as stubborn as a mule in an argument. / She refused to say sorry, acting as stubborn as a mule in an argument.
Other Ways to Say: Refusing apology / Won’t admit fault
38. Like a sinking anchor in the mud
Description: This describes a toxic friend who pulls you down into bad behavior.
For Example: Hanging out with him felt like a sinking anchor in the mud for my grades. / His bad habits acted like a sinking anchor in the mud.
Other Ways to Say: Dragging down / Muddy anchor
39. As sharp as a razor tongue
Meaning: This means someone who cuts you down with mean gossip and insults.
For Example: Her whispers in the hallway were as sharp as a razor tongue. / Watch out for kids with a razor tongue who love to start drama.
Other Ways to Say: Insulting talk / Gossip tongue
40. Like a chameleon changing colors
Description: This describes a fake friend who changes how they act depending on who is watching.
For Example: He acts nice around teachers but mean to kids, moving like a chameleon changing colors. / She switches friend groups instantly like a chameleon changing colors.
Other Ways to Say: Fake switcher / Changing face
41. As hollow as an empty drum
Meaning: This means someone who makes big promises of loyalty but never follows through.
For Example: His promise to defend you in an argument was as hollow as an empty drum. / Her grand speeches about friendship sounded as hollow as an empty drum.
Other Ways to Say: Empty promises / No substance
42. Like a moth drawn to dangerous fire
Description: This describes a reckless friend who constantly leads you into risky drama.
For Example: Following his rule-breaking plans pulled us in like a moth drawn to dangerous fire. / She chased school gossip like a moth drawn to dangerous fire.
Other Ways to Say: Drama chaser / Risk seeker
43. As heavy as lead on your mind
Meaning: This means worrying about a toxic friend’s drama all day long.
For Example: Dealing with his constant fighting felt as heavy as lead on your mind. / Her mean texting left a feeling as heavy as lead on your mind.
Other Ways to Say: Mental weight / Stressful worry
44. Like an uninvited guest at dinner
Description: This describes a bossy friend who pushes into your games and ruins the fun.
For Example: He forced his way into our secret club meetings like an uninvited guest at dinner. / She interrupted our conversation like an uninvited guest at dinner.
Other Ways to Say: Pushing in / Rude interloper
45. As prickly as a cactus
Meaning: This means an unfriendly, defensive person who snaps at you when you try to talk.
For Example: When I asked how he was doing, he reacted as prickly as a cactus. / Her morning mood made her as prickly as a cactus.
Other Ways to Say: Defensive mood / Snapping back
46. Like a stormy sea with no shore
Description: This describes a chaotic friendship full of endless drama and fighting.
For Example: Being in that dramatic friend group felt like sailing a stormy sea with no shore. / Their constant arguments were like a stormy sea with no shore.
Other Ways to Say: Endless drama / Rough waters
47. As fragile as an eggshell promise
Meaning: This means a weak agreement with a bad friend that shatters instantly.
For Example: His vow to keep your secret was as fragile as an eggshell promise. / Their commitment to the group project was as fragile as an eggshell promise.
Other Ways to Say: Weak vow / Easily broken word
48. Like a ticking time bomb of drama
Description: This describes a volatile friend who is ready to explode into a fight over nothing.
For Example: He started shouting over a small game piece like a ticking time bomb of drama. / Her temper felt like a ticking time bomb of drama all week.
Other Ways to Say: Volatile temper / Ready to blow
49. As loud as a clanging cymbal
Meaning: This means an obnoxious friend who loves to brag and draw negative attention.
For Example: He boasted about his video game scores as loud as a clanging cymbal. / Her loud complaining in the library was as loud as a clanging cymbal.
Other Ways to Say: Obnoxious braggart / Noisy showoff
50. Like a shadow stealing your light
Description: This describes a jealous friend who tries to make you look bad so they look better.
For Example: She tried to take credit for your art project like a shadow stealing your light. / Beware of jealous peers acting like a shadow stealing your light.
Other Ways to Say: Credit thief / Jealous rival
51. As slick as oil on water
Meaning: This means a sneaky person who slides away from blame after causing a fight.
For Example: He started the rumor and then acted innocent, as slick as oil on water. / She escaped getting in trouble by acting as slick as oil on water.
Other Ways to Say: Sneaky escape / Blame dodger
52. Like a rusty lock on a door
Description: This describes a friendship that has stopped working and will not open up anymore.
For Example: Trying to fix our broken trust felt like forcing a rusty lock on a door. / Their closed-off communication felt like a rusty lock on a door.
Other Ways to Say: Stuck friendship / Broken trust
53. As dark as a thunderstorm cloud
Meaning: This means a brooding, mean-spirited friend who brings bad energy to the group.
For Example: His angry scowl made the lunch table look as dark as a thunderstorm cloud. / She brought bad vibes into the clubhouse as dark as a thunderstorm cloud.
Other Ways to Say: Bad vibes / Angry mood
54. Like a broken record of complaints
Description: This describes an annoying friend who never stops whining about everything.
For Example: He griped about the homework assignment like a broken record of complaints. / Her constant whining sounded like a broken record of complaints.
Other Ways to Say: Whining repeat / Endless griping
55. As dry as old bones
Meaning: This means a dull, uncaring friend who offers zero comfort when you are sad.
For Example: When I told her I was upset, her advice was as dry as old bones. / His empathy for others is as dry as old bones.
Other Ways to Say: Uncaring heart / Cold comfort
56. Like a thorn bush blocking the path
Description: This describes a difficult person who makes it hard for you to enjoy your school day.
For Example: Dealing with his daily teasing felt like walking past a thorn bush blocking the path. / Her bullying stood like a thorn bush blocking the path to a fun recess.
Other Ways to Say: Difficult obstacle / Roadblock peer
57. As fickle as the wind
Meaning: This means an unreliable friend who changes who they like every single day.
For Example: One day she is your best friend and the next she ignores you, as fickle as the wind. / His loyalties are as fickle as the wind.
Other Ways to Say: Changing mind / Unsteady pal
58. Like a heavy fog obscuring the truth
Description: This describes a manipulative friend who spreads lies to confuse everyone.
For Example: His false stories about the club funds spread like a heavy fog obscuring the truth. / Her confusing gossip acted like a heavy fog obscuring the truth.
Other Ways to Say: Confusing lies / Hiding facts
59. As bitter as lemon peel
Meaning: This means an unpleasant, nasty personality that leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
For Example: His sarcastic jokes about her drawings tasted as bitter as lemon peel. / Her nasty attitude left the whole group feeling as bitter as lemon peel.
Other Ways to Say: Nasty personality / Sour taste
60. Like a visitor who overstays their welcome
Description: This describes an obnoxious friend who hangs around even when nobody wants them there.
For Example: He ignored all the hints to leave our clubhouse like a visitor who overstays their welcome. / She kept intruding on our private conversations like a visitor who overstays their welcome.
Other Ways to Say: Intruding guest / Unwanted hanger
Exercise to Practice
- He promised to help with the project, but he acted ________ when it was time to work.
- She smiled in your face and then spread rumors ________.
- When she walked past him without saying hello, her attitude was ________.
- When the sports team started losing, he vanished ________.
- Her nasty gossip about classmates was ________.
- He only hangs out when we go to the amusement park ________.
- His promise to share his trading cards turned out to be ________.
- He kept teasing everyone during recess ________.
- Her unkind comments during lunch were ________.
- Relying on him for the group project felt like ________.
- His attitude after losing the game was ________.
- He only borrows your toys and never shares, sticking around ________.
- Their friendship broke apart over a tiny argument because it was ________.
- Staying close to that dramatic group of kids feels like ________.
- Being around his constant complaining felt ________.
Answer Key
- as slippery as an eel
- like a wolf in sheep’s clothing
- as cold as ice
- like a shadow that disappears in the dark
- as poisonous as a snake
- like a fair-weather sailor
- as false as a glass coin
- like a thorn in your side
- as sharp as a brier
- a broken promise
- as bitter as gall
- like a leech on your arm
- as shallow as a puddle
- a sinking ship
- as heavy as an anchor
Conclusion
Learning these fun similes helps you describe tricky or unhelpful people in much more creative ways. Instead of using plain words, you can paint a vivid picture in your reader’s mind.
Try using some of these expressions the next time you talk about choosing good friends or tell a story with your classmates. You will sound like a true vocabulary expert and make your writing much more fun to read!
