Hints on searching for similes:
- Remember to look for synonyms of the keyword that you are interested in.
- Note that the "as" and "than" forms of a simile can usually be interchanged without much change in underlying meaning: "as fast as greased lightning" and "faster than greased lightning" both convey similar indications of velocity.
Hints on contributing similes:
- Read the hints and directions on the contribution page.
- Don't use the comparative form of a keyword, even if that is the way it appears in the simile. For example, if the simile is "Finer than frog hair", use "fine" as the keyword. Doing so will help keep the keyword list compact and easy to search.
- We know it is a pain in the neck, but try to search for your simile first to make sure it hasn't already been contributed to the bank. It is OK to have two similes that are roughly similar to each other, but if identical or nearly identical ones are found, one will be deleted.
- In cases where there are potential synonyms of the keyword ("faster/quicker/speedier/swifter/fleeter than a bat out of Hell"), we do not really have any concrete guidelines at his point. Feel free to suggest some at the About page. If possible, use the most commonly used word (e.g., "fast" rather than "fleet").
Q: Why do you only accept "as" and "than" similes and not "like" similes?
A: Primarily it is a matter of searchability. The bank is of little use if you cannot find the similes you want. The keyword database is the primary way of searching, and "like" similes generally don't have an obvious keyword. For example, "like the Rock of Gibraltar" is a common simile which everyone understands, but how would you search for it or classify it?
Fortunately, most "like" similes can be converted into "as" or "than" similes. For example: "sturdy as the Rock of Gibraltar". Now the concept of sturdiness, which was implicit in the "like" form, is made explicit and we can use this keyword to search for this simile.
Q: Is the bank curated or is it a free-for-all like some user-contributed sites?
A: The bank President comes by once or twice a week and deals with the comments and the flags, removes spam, and does other chores to help keep the bank tidy. Unlike Wall Street bankers, the Simile Bank President isn't making money off of his bank (unless the visitors click on the advertisements), but he intends to try to keep the place useful and functional.