Fake friends can be hard to deal with. They might act like your friend, but don’t really care about you. These people can be tricky to spot. Often, they hide their true intentions behind a smile or a kind word. In this article, we’ll explore how similes can help describe these tricky relationships. A simile compares two things using “like” or “as.” When it comes to fake friends, similes make it easier to understand their behavior.
Just like a mask hides someone’s face, fake friends hide their real intentions. Learning similes about fake friends can help us identify them better. You’ll learn some creative ways to describe these friends. By the end of the article, you’ll know how to express the feeling of dealing with someone who isn’t as true as they appear.
Similes about Fake Friends
1. As fake as a two-dollar bill
Meaning: Someone who is insincere or dishonest.
Samples: His compliments were as fake as a two-dollar bill, just meant to get something from me. / She promised to help, but her support was as fake as a two-dollar bill.
To Put it Another Way: He wasn’t being honest. / Her words meant nothing.
2. As slippery as an eel
Meaning: Someone who is hard to trust and difficult to pin down.
Samples: Every time I tried to get a straight answer from him, he was as slippery as an eel. / She promised to show up, but she was as slippery as an eel when the time came.
To Put it Another Way: He’s hard to catch in a lie. / She keeps avoiding commitment.
3. As shallow as a puddle
Meaning: Someone who lacks depth or substance, especially in relationships.
Samples: His friendship was as shallow as a puddle; he was only around when things were easy. / Her care for me was as shallow as a puddle.
To Put it Another Way: He wasn’t really there for me. / She didn’t show any real concern.
4. As cold as ice
Meaning: Someone who is distant, unfeeling, or lacking empathy.
Samples: After I shared something personal, she became as cold as ice and didn’t seem to care. / His reaction was as cold as ice, like he didn’t care at all.
To Put it Another Way: She showed no warmth. / He was emotionally distant.
5. As empty as a hollow shell
Meaning: Someone who seems to be missing something inside, lacking genuine feelings.
Samples: He smiled, but it was as empty as a hollow shell, lacking any real emotion. / Her words sounded kind, but they were as empty as a hollow shell.
To Put it Another Way: He was just going through the motions. / Her kindness didn’t feel genuine.
6. As two-faced as a coin
Meaning: Someone who behaves differently in front of different people or situations, often pretending to be a friend.
Samples: She’s as two-faced as a coin, acting friendly to my face but gossiping behind my back. / His behavior was as two-faced as a coin, always changing depending on who was around.
To Put it Another Way: She’s not trustworthy. / He pretends to be someone he’s not.
7. As sweet as sugar, but just as fake
Meaning: Someone who pretends to be nice or sweet but has insincere intentions.
Samples: She was as sweet as sugar, but just as fake, always flattering me to get what she wanted. / His kindness seemed as sweet as sugar, but just as fake when I needed him most.
To Put it Another Way: He wasn’t being honest. / Her kindness wasn’t real.
8. As loyal as a paper napkin
Meaning: Someone who is not reliable or trustworthy.
Samples: When I needed help, she was as loyal as a paper napkin there one second, gone the next. / His support was as loyal as a paper napkin, ready to be discarded at any moment.
To Put it Another Way: He wasn’t dependable. / She quickly turned away.
9. As warm as a shadow
Meaning: Someone who offers no support or warmth when you need it.
Samples: He promised to have my back, but he was as warm as a shadow during the tough times. / She acted like a friend, but her warmth was as fake as a shadow.
To Put it Another Way: She gave no support. / He wasn’t there for me.
10. As honest as a magician’s trick
Meaning: Someone who deceives or hides their true intentions.
Samples: His words were as honest as a magician’s trick, full of misdirection. / She said she cared, but her actions were as honest as a magician’s trick.
To Put it Another Way: He wasn’t truthful. / Her words didn’t match her actions.
11. As silent as a liar’s promise
Meaning: Someone who doesn’t keep their word and leaves you in the dark.
Samples: Her apology was as silent as a liar’s promise, leaving me unsure of her true feelings. / His words were as silent as a liar’s promise, just empty and meaningless.
To Put it Another Way: Her words were empty. / He didn’t keep his promise.
12. As fake as a plastic flower
Meaning: Someone who appears to be real but is actually artificial or insincere.
Samples: Her friendship was as fake as a plastic flower, always looking pretty but never genuine. / His gestures of kindness were as fake as a plastic flower.
To Put it Another Way: She wasn’t genuine. / His actions were insincere.
13. As transparent as a foggy window
Meaning: Someone who is hard to understand or predict, often due to deception.
Samples: His true feelings were as transparent as a foggy window impossible to see clearly. / She acted nice, but her motives were as transparent as a foggy window.
To Put it Another Way: I couldn’t trust him. / She was difficult to figure out.
14. As hollow as a drum
Meaning: Someone who seems full of sound but lacks any real substance or truth.
Samples: His promises were as hollow as a drum, always loud but empty inside. / She was as hollow as a drum, full of words but nothing real behind them.
To Put it Another Way: He was all talk. / She wasn’t sincere.
15. As silent as a forgotten word
Meaning: Someone who becomes quiet or distant, especially when needed.
Samples: She became as silent as a forgotten word when I needed advice. / He was as silent as a forgotten word, vanishing when I asked for help.
To Put it Another Way: She ignored me. / He didn’t speak up when it mattered.
16. As unreliable as a broken clock
Meaning: Someone who cannot be counted on, no matter how much they promise.
Samples: He was as unreliable as a broken clock, always missing the important moments. / Her promises were as unreliable as a broken clock, always late.
To Put it Another Way: He wasn’t dependable. / She couldn’t be trusted.
17. As fake as a Halloween costume
Meaning: Someone pretending to be something they are not.
Samples: His friendly smile was as fake as a Halloween costume, just for show. / She acted like she cared, but her concern was as fake as a Halloween costume.
To Put it Another Way: He was pretending. / Her kindness wasn’t real.
18. As cold as a winter’s day
Meaning: Someone who is emotionally distant or unfeeling.
Samples: Her response was as cold as a winter’s day, leaving me feeling isolated. / He was as cold as a winter’s day, showing no emotion.
To Put it Another Way: She didn’t care. / He was distant and unkind.
19. As elusive as a ghost
Meaning: Someone who is hard to track down or catch, especially when you need them.
Samples: She was as elusive as a ghost, always avoiding me when I needed a friend. / His promises were as elusive as a ghost, disappearing when I needed him.
To Put it Another Way: She kept avoiding me. / He was never around when I needed him.
20. As quiet as a closed book
Meaning: Someone who hides their true feelings or intentions.
Samples: He became as quiet as a closed book, keeping everything to himself. / Her emotions were as quiet as a closed book, leaving me guessing.
To Put it Another Way: He didn’t share anything. / She kept her feelings hidden.
21. As fleeting as a shooting star
Meaning: Someone who is there for a moment, then disappears just as quickly.
Samples: His friendship was as fleeting as a shooting star bright for a second, then gone. / She was as fleeting as a shooting star, always leaving when I needed her.
To Put it Another Way: He was never around for long. / She disappeared just as fast as she arrived.
22. As fake as a cardboard cutout
Meaning: Someone who is not real or is pretending to be something they are not.
Samples: His personality was as fake as a cardboard cutout flat and shallow. / She looked real, but her kindness was as fake as a cardboard cutout.
To Put it Another Way: He wasn’t genuine. / She pretended to care but didn’t.
23. As unreliable as a leaky faucet
Meaning: Someone who is constantly failing or breaking promises.
Samples: He was as unreliable as a leaky faucet, always letting me down when I needed him. / Her promises were as unreliable as a leaky faucet constant drips of disappointment.
To Put it Another Way: He couldn’t be counted on. / She always let me down.
24. As shallow as a puddle in the sun
Meaning: Someone who lacks depth and has no true understanding of emotions.
Samples: Her friendship was as shallow as a puddle in the sun, quickly drying up when things got tough. / His support was as shallow as a puddle in the sun.
To Put it Another Way: She wasn’t really there for me. / His care was only surface deep.
25. As fake as a smile in a photo
Meaning: Someone who is pretending to be happy or friendly, often insincerely.
Samples: His smile was as fake as a smile in a photo, just for show. / She gave me a smile as fake as a smile in a photo when I needed help.
To Put it Another Way: He wasn’t really happy. / Her friendliness didn’t seem real.
26. As unreliable as a bad weather forecast
Meaning: Someone who is often wrong or unpredictable, especially in times of need.
Samples: She was as unreliable as a bad weather forecast, always saying one thing and doing another. / His plans were as unreliable as a bad weather forecast, changing at the last minute.
To Put it Another Way: She couldn’t be trusted. / He always kept changing his mind.
27. As empty as an unused wallet
Meaning: Someone who offers nothing of value or doesn’t fulfill their promises.
Samples: His promises were as empty as an unused wallet, offering nothing when I needed it. / Her friendship felt as empty as an unused wallet, leaving me feeling alone.
To Put it Another Way: He didn’t follow through. / She didn’t offer anything of real value.
28. As hollow as a tree without roots
Meaning: Someone who lacks any depth or genuine connection.
Samples: His words were as hollow as a tree without roots, meaning nothing at all. / She seemed as hollow as a tree without roots, unable to form real bonds.
To Put it Another Way: He wasn’t sincere. / She didn’t have real feelings.
29. As fake as a plastic smile
Meaning: Someone who pretends to be happy or friendly, but it’s not real.
Samples: Her smile was as fake as a plastic smile, pretending to be friendly but hiding her true feelings. / His words of support were as fake as a plastic smile.
To Put it Another Way: She wasn’t genuine. / He wasn’t being truthful.
30. As elusive as a shadow at dusk
Meaning: Someone who is hard to hold onto or keep in your life, constantly slipping away.
Samples: She was as elusive as a shadow at dusk, always leaving when I needed her most. / His promises were as elusive as a shadow at dusk never sticking around.
To Put it Another Way: She was hard to hold onto. / He kept disappearing.
31. As transparent as a foggy mirror
Meaning: Someone whose actions or true intentions are unclear or confusing.
Samples: His behavior was as transparent as a foggy mirror, always hard to figure out. / She acted like a friend, but her intentions were as transparent as a foggy mirror.
To Put it Another Way: I couldn’t understand him. / Her actions didn’t make sense.
32. As unstable as a house of cards
Meaning: Someone who is unreliable or fragile, ready to fall apart at any moment.
Samples: Their friendship was as unstable as a house of cards, falling apart with the smallest disagreement. / He was as unstable as a house of cards, always changing his mind.
To Put it Another Way: They couldn’t be counted on. / His friendship was fragile.
33. As fake as a plastic plant
Meaning: Someone who seems real or natural, but is actually artificial or deceptive.
Samples: His interest in my life was as fake as a plastic plant, looking good but offering nothing real. / She was as fake as a plastic plant, pretending to care but never showing it.
To Put it Another Way: He wasn’t sincere. / She only pretended to care.
34. As distant as the stars
Meaning: Someone who is emotionally far away or disconnected from others.
Samples: He seemed as distant as the stars, never opening up or being there when I needed him. / She was as distant as the stars, no matter how much I reached out.
To Put it Another Way: He was emotionally unavailable. / She kept her distance.
35. As inconsistent as a weather vane
Meaning: Someone who keeps changing their mind or actions without reason.
Samples: Her opinions were as inconsistent as a weather vane, always changing with the wind. / He was as inconsistent as a weather vane, never steady in his decisions.
To Put it Another Way: She couldn’t make up her mind. / He kept switching his stance.
36. As fake as a movie script
Meaning: Someone who acts in a way that is exaggerated or staged, lacking authenticity.
Samples: His apology sounded as fake as a movie script, just words with no real meaning. / She was as fake as a movie script, always playing a part.
To Put it Another Way: His apology wasn’t real. / She was pretending to be something she wasn’t.
37. As hollow as an empty box
Meaning: Someone who seems full but is empty on the inside, offering nothing of value.
Samples: His promises were as hollow as an empty box, offering nothing when it mattered. / She seemed as hollow as an empty box, with no real care behind her words.
To Put it Another Way: He didn’t keep his word. / She wasn’t really there for me.
38. As disloyal as a traitor
Meaning: Someone who betrays trust and is not faithful.
Samples: He was as disloyal as a traitor, telling secrets behind my back. / Her behavior was as disloyal as a traitor when she turned on me.
To Put it Another Way: He wasn’t trustworthy. / She betrayed me.
39. As smooth as a used car salesman
Meaning: Someone who speaks smoothly but is trying to deceive or manipulate.
Samples: His words were as smooth as a used car salesman, promising everything but delivering nothing. / She was as smooth as a used car salesman, charming me only to get what she wanted.
To Put it Another Way: He was trying to deceive me. / She was being manipulative.
40. As fake as a Twitter account
Meaning: Someone who hides behind a fake identity or pretends to be someone they are not.
Samples: His apologies were as fake as a Twitter account, just words typed out for show. / She was as fake as a Twitter account, pretending to be something she wasn’t.
To Put it Another Way: He wasn’t being genuine. / She was pretending to be someone else.
41. As empty as a dry well
Meaning: Someone who has nothing to offer, emotionally or mentally.
Samples: Her support was as empty as a dry well, offering nothing when I needed it most. / His heart felt as empty as a dry well, with no real care inside.
To Put it Another Way: She didn’t care. / He wasn’t emotionally available.
42. As cruel as a wolf in sheep’s clothing
Meaning: Someone who appears kind but is actually harmful or deceitful.
Samples: His smile was as cruel as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, hiding his true intentions behind a friendly face. / She acted sweet, but her actions were as cruel as a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
To Put it Another Way: She was deceiving me. / He was hiding his true nature.
43. As selfish as a hoarder
Meaning: Someone who only thinks of themselves and never considers others.
Samples: She was as selfish as a hoarder, keeping everything for herself and never sharing. / He was as selfish as a hoarder, thinking only about what he could get.
To Put it Another Way: She never thought of anyone else. / He only cared about his own needs.
44. As unreliable as a flat tire
Meaning: Someone who can’t be depended on, often letting you down.
Samples: He was as unreliable as a flat tire, always breaking down when you needed him. / Her support was as unreliable as a flat tire, always failing when it mattered.
To Put it Another Way: He let me down. / She couldn’t be trusted.
45. As deceitful as a fox in disguise
Meaning: Someone who is very clever at hiding their true intentions.
Samples: He was as deceitful as a fox in disguise, pretending to be my friend while plotting against me. / She was as deceitful as a fox in disguise, always hiding her true feelings.
To Put it Another Way: He was tricking me. / She wasn’t being honest.
46. As disloyal as a turned coat
Meaning: Someone who changes sides or betrays you for their own benefit.
Samples: He was as disloyal as a turned coat, switching sides as soon as things got tough. / She was as disloyal as a turned coat, turning on me when I needed her most.
To Put it Another Way: He betrayed me. / She wasn’t loyal.
47. As empty as a bank vault with no money
Meaning: Someone who offers nothing of value, no substance.
Samples: His promises were as empty as a bank vault with no money, offering nothing in return. / Her friendship was as empty as a bank vault with no money, just words without actions.
To Put it Another Way: He didn’t follow through. / She didn’t offer anything real.
48. As fake as a Hollywood starlet’s smile
Meaning: Someone who shows a fake, glamorous persona that is only for show.
Samples: His charm was as fake as a Hollywood starlet’s smile, just for the cameras. / She smiled as fake as a Hollywood starlet’s smile, hiding her true feelings.
To Put it Another Way: He was just acting. / She wasn’t being real.
49. As untrustworthy as a fox guarding the henhouse
Meaning: Someone who is not reliable and can’t be trusted with important matters.
Samples: She was as untrustworthy as a fox guarding the henhouse, always acting in her own interest. / He was as untrustworthy as a fox guarding the henhouse, never keeping his promises.
To Put it Another Way: He can’t be trusted. / She was always looking out for herself.
50. As false as a cheap imitation
Meaning: Someone who pretends to be something they are not, offering nothing genuine.
Samples: His friendship was as false as a cheap imitation, just pretending to care. / She was as false as a cheap imitation, never being her true self.
To Put it Another Way: He wasn’t real. / She wasn’t being honest.
Find the Topics: Similes about Fake Friends
Last week, I had a huge argument with my friend, Rachel. She was acting as fake as a plastic flower, pretending to be my friend, but I knew something wasn’t right. At first, she seemed as sweet as sugar, always offering help, but I later realized her kindness was as fake as a cardboard cutout. I started noticing that she was as slippery as an eel, always finding a way to dodge serious conversations about our friendship.
One day, she promised to meet me at the park, but she was as elusive as a ghost, never showing up or giving me a good reason why. I felt like I was talking to someone as empty as a dry well, as though she had nothing real to offer anymore. It was as if our friendship was as hollow as an empty box only looking good on the outside, but nothing inside. Every time I needed her, she was as unreliable as a leaky faucet, never following through on her word.
After that, I realized she was as disloyal as a turned coat, switching sides just when things got tough. Her words were as smooth as a used car salesman, but I saw right through them. It became clear that she was as false as a cheap imitation, not really caring for me at all. My trust in her was as unstable as a house of cards, and every time I thought I could count on her, it came crashing down. I finally understood she was as two-faced as a coin, acting nice to my face but saying things behind my back.
Your Task:
Underline or list all 12 similes you found in the passage above.
Answer Key:
- As fake as a plastic flower
- As sweet as sugar
- As fake as a cardboard cutout
- As slippery as an eel
- As elusive as a ghost
- As empty as a dry well
- As hollow as an empty box
- As unreliable as a leaky faucet
- As disloyal as a turned coat
- As smooth as a used car salesman
- As false as a cheap imitation
- As two-faced as a coin
Conclusion
Dealing with fake friends can be difficult, but understanding how to describe them with similes can help us express our feelings. Similes like “as slippery as an eel” or “as fake as a plastic flower” paint a clear picture of what it feels like when someone pretends to be your friend but isn’t sincere. These expressions help us explain the disappointment and confusion that can come from trusting someone who isn’t loyal.
By learning these similes, we can better understand the behaviors of fake friends and use the right words to talk about them. Whether in writing or in conversation, using similes adds depth and meaning to how we describe these tricky situations. Next time you feel betrayed or let down by a friend, try using one of these similes to share how it really feels. It can help you communicate more clearly and feel understood.
