From The Notebooks of Raymond Chandler, a list of similes and comparisons for future use :
As noiseless as a finger in a glove
Lower than a badger’s balls (!!) (Vulgar - belly)
As systematic as a madam counting the take
About as French as a doughnut (i.e. not French at all)
His face was long enough to wrap twice around his neck
As much sex appeal as a turtle
A nose like a straphanger’s elbow
As clean as an angel’s neck
Smart as a hole through nothing
A face like a collapsed lung
So tight his head squeaks when he takes his hat off
A cold as a nun’s breeches
High enough to have snow on him
As shiny as a clubwoman’s nose
He sipped like a hummingbird drinking dew from a curled leaf
As gaudy as a chiropractor’s chart
A mouth like wilted lettuce
This smile was wide, about three quarters of an inch
A thready smile As cold as Finnegan’s feet
As rare as a fat postman (Cissy)
The triangular eye of a squirrel
Longer than a round trip to Siam
As cute as a washtub
Lonely as a caboose of a fifty car freight
A great long gallows of a man with a ravaged face and a haggard eye
A sea sick albatross
No more personality than a paper clip
As exclusive as a mail box
(Notes in parentheses are Chandler's and appear as they were written.)
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