Similes paint vivid pictures by comparing two unlike things using “like” or “as,” making your writing pop with clarity and emotion. Describing someone untrustworthy—someone sneaky, deceptive, or unreliable—can be tricky, but similes make it engaging and relatable. Whether you’re crafting a story, poem, or just sharpening your vocabulary, these comparisons bring shady characters to life. This article unveils a treasure trove of creative similes to describe untrustworthy folks, sparking your imagination and adding flair to your words. Read on to discover vivid expressions that capture the essence of deceit and keep your audience hooked!
Quick Definition of a Simile
A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using “like” or “as” to create a vivid image. It’s a simple yet powerful way to make descriptions memorable and relatable.
Table of 5 Quick Similes for Untrustworthy
| Simile | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Slippery as an eel | Hard to pin down, evasive | He dodged questions about his past, slippery as an eel. |
| Two-faced as a coin | Showing different sides to different people | Her promises were empty, two-faced as a coin. |
| Shifty as a fox | Cunning and unreliable | His shifty-as-a-fox grin made me doubt his story. |
| False as a mirage | Deceptive, not what it seems | His kindness was false as a mirage in the desert. |
| Wobbly as a loose wheel | Unstable and unreliable | His loyalty was wobbly as a loose wheel on a cart. |
As slippery as an eel
Meaning: Describes someone who is elusive and hard to hold accountable due to their cunning nature.
Definition: Evasive and difficult to trust.
- Example 1: When asked about the missing funds, he was as slippery as an eel, dodging every question.
- Example 2: Her excuses were as slippery as an eel, leaving us no closer to the truth.
As two-faced as a coin
Meaning: Refers to someone who shows different behaviors or attitudes to different people, hiding their true intentions.
Definition: Hypocritical and deceitful.
- Example 1: She smiled at me but gossiped behind my back, as two-faced as a coin.
- Example 2: His two-faced-as-a-coin nature made it hard to know his real feelings.
As shifty as a fox
Meaning: Suggests someone is cunning and untrustworthy, always scheming.
Definition: Sly and deceptive.
- Example 1: His shifty-as-a-fox eyes darted around, hiding his true plans.
- Example 2: The salesman’s shifty-as-a-fox demeanor made me question his deal.
As false as a mirage
Meaning: Indicates something or someone that seems real but is deceptive.
Definition: Illusory and unreliable.
- Example 1: His promises of quick riches were as false as a mirage in the desert.
- Example 2: Her concern for my troubles felt as false as a mirage.
As wobbly as a loose wheel
Meaning: Describes someone unreliable, whose loyalty or commitment is unstable.
Definition: Inconsistent and untrustworthy.
- Example 1: His support was as wobbly as a loose wheel, crumbling under pressure.
- Example 2: The team’s trust in her was as wobbly as a loose wheel after her lies.
As crooked as a bent nail
Meaning: Refers to someone dishonest or morally corrupt.
Definition: Deceitful and unprincipled.
- Example 1: His crooked-as-a-bent-nail dealings cost us the entire project.
- Example 2: She ran the scam with a crooked-as-a-bent-nail grin.
As sneaky as a cat in the dark
Meaning: Suggests someone who moves quietly and secretly to avoid detection.
Definition: Stealthy and untrustworthy.
- Example 1: He was sneaky as a cat in the dark, slipping away with the profits.
- Example 2: Her sneaky-as-a-cat-in-the-dark tactics fooled everyone at first.
As unreliable as a broken clock
Meaning: Indicates someone who can’t be depended on, like a clock that doesn’t work.
Definition: Inconsistent and untrustworthy.
- Example 1: His promises were as unreliable as a broken clock, never on time.
- Example 2: Trusting her was like trusting a broken clock—useless.
As slick as a snake oil salesman
Meaning: Describes someone who uses charm to deceive others.
Definition: Smooth-talking and deceitful.
- Example 1: His slick-as-a-snake-oil-salesman pitch convinced everyone but delivered nothing.
- Example 2: She was slick as a snake oil salesman, hiding her true motives.
As dodgy as a shadow in a storm
Meaning: Refers to someone elusive and hard to trust due to their unpredictable nature.
Definition: Evasive and suspicious.
- Example 1: His dodgy-as-a-shadow-in-a-storm behavior raised red flags.
- Example 2: She vanished from the deal, dodgy as a shadow in a storm.
As fickle as a feather in the wind
Meaning: Describes someone whose loyalty or decisions change unpredictably.
Definition: Unstable and untrustworthy.
- Example 1: His support was as fickle as a feather in the wind, gone with a breeze.
- Example 2: Her fickle-as-a-feather-in-the-wind promises left us stranded.
As shady as a back-alley deal
Meaning: Suggests someone involved in secretive, dishonest activities.
Definition: Suspicious and deceitful.
- Example 1: His shady-as-a-back-alley-deal tactics made everyone wary.
- Example 2: The contract felt as shady as a back-alley deal, full of hidden clauses.
As slippery as wet ice
Meaning: Refers to someone who is extremely difficult to pin down or trust.
Definition: Elusive and unreliable.
- Example 1: His excuses were as slippery as wet ice, impossible to grasp.
- Example 2: She was as slippery as wet ice, dodging every accusation.
As hollow as an empty promise
Meaning: Describes someone whose words lack sincerity or follow-through.
Definition: Insincere and untrustworthy.
- Example 1: His apologies were as hollow as an empty promise, meaning nothing.
- Example 2: Her vows to help were as hollow as an empty promise.
As cunning as a wolf in sheep’s clothing
Meaning: Suggests someone who hides their true, deceitful nature behind a kind facade.
Definition: Deceptive and manipulative.
- Example 1: He was as cunning as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, fooling us all.
- Example 2: Her kindness hid a cunning-as-a-wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing agenda.
As flimsy as a house of cards
Meaning: Refers to someone whose reliability collapses under scrutiny.
Definition: Fragile and untrustworthy.
- Example 1: His alibi was as flimsy as a house of cards, falling apart quickly.
- Example 2: Her excuses were as flimsy as a house of cards in the wind.
As deceitful as a spider’s web
Meaning: Describes someone who traps others with lies or manipulation.
Definition: Tricky and untrustworthy.
- Example 1: His words were as deceitful as a spider’s web, ensnaring the naive.
- Example 2: She wove lies as deceitful as a spider’s web to get her way.
As unstable as a house on stilts
Meaning: Suggests someone whose reliability is shaky and prone to collapse.
Definition: Unreliable and precarious.
- Example 1: His loyalty was as unstable as a house on stilts during a storm.
- Example 2: Trusting her was as unstable as a house on stilts.
As crafty as a pickpocket
Meaning: Refers to someone who is sly and skilled at deception.
Definition: Cleverly deceitful.
- Example 1: He was as crafty as a pickpocket, stealing trust unnoticed.
- Example 2: Her crafty-as-a-pickpocket smile hid her true intentions.
As treacherous as quicksand
Meaning: Describes someone dangerous and unpredictable, pulling others into trouble.
Definition: Hazardous and untrustworthy.
- Example 1: His promises were as treacherous as quicksand, swallowing our hopes.
- Example 2: She was as treacherous as quicksand, betraying us without warning.
As elusive as a ghost
Meaning: Suggests someone who is hard to track or trust due to their mysterious nature.
Definition: Hard to pin down and unreliable.
- Example 1: He was as elusive as a ghost, vanishing when questions arose.
- Example 2: Her motives were as elusive as a ghost in the fog.
As fake as a three-dollar bill
Meaning: Refers to someone or something blatantly false or counterfeit.
Definition: Obviously deceitful.
- Example 1: His sincerity was as fake as a three-dollar bill, fooling no one.
- Example 2: Her tears were as fake as a three-dollar bill during the argument.
As slippery as a greased pig
Meaning: Describes someone who is nearly impossible to hold accountable.
Definition: Extremely evasive.
- Example 1: He was as slippery as a greased pig, avoiding all responsibility.
- Example 2: Her lies were as slippery as a greased pig, hard to catch.
As untrustworthy as a cracked mirror
Meaning: Suggests someone whose reliability is flawed and distorted.
Definition: Unreliable and misleading.
- Example 1: His promises were as untrustworthy as a cracked mirror, reflecting lies.
- Example 2: Trusting her was like trusting a cracked mirror—distorted and risky.
As sly as a serpent
Meaning: Refers to someone cunning and deceptive, often with harmful intentions.
Definition: Deceitful and cunning.
- Example 1: He was as sly as a serpent, manipulating everyone around him.
- Example 2: Her sly-as-a-serpent words twisted the truth effortlessly.
As shaky as a leaf in a storm
Meaning: Describes someone whose reliability falters under pressure.
Definition: Unstable and untrustworthy.
- Example 1: His loyalty was as shaky as a leaf in a storm, gone with the wind.
- Example 2: She was as shaky as a leaf in a storm when confronted.
As dubious as a used car salesman
Meaning: Suggests someone whose honesty is questionable, often overly persuasive.
Definition: Suspicious and untrustworthy.
- Example 1: His pitch was as dubious as a used car salesman’s promises.
- Example 2: She was as dubious as a used car salesman, hiding the flaws.
As fleeting as a shadow
Meaning: Refers to someone whose presence or reliability disappears quickly.
Definition: Temporary and untrustworthy.
- Example 1: His support was as fleeting as a shadow, gone by noon.
- Example 2: Her promises were as fleeting as a shadow in the sunlight.
As unreliable as a paper boat
Meaning: Describes someone who collapses under even slight pressure.
Definition: Fragile and undependable.
- Example 1: His commitment was as unreliable as a paper boat in a storm.
- Example 2: Trusting her was like trusting a paper boat to cross a river.
As cunning as a chess master
Meaning: Suggests someone who plans deceptions strategically.
Definition: Cleverly manipulative.
- Example 1: He was as cunning as a chess master, plotting every move.
- Example 2: Her cunning-as-a-chess-master tactics outsmarted us all.
As shady as a moonless night
Meaning: Refers to someone whose actions are hidden and suspicious.
Definition: Secretive and untrustworthy.
- Example 1: His dealings were as shady as a moonless night, full of secrets.
- Example 2: She was as shady as a moonless night, hiding her true plans.
As flimsy as a paper mask
Meaning: Describes someone whose facade of trustworthiness is easily seen through.
Definition: Weakly deceptive.
- Example 1: His honesty was as flimsy as a paper mask, crumbling under scrutiny.
- Example 2: Her kind words were as flimsy as a paper mask, hiding lies.
As slippery as a politician’s promise
Meaning: Suggests someone whose words are smooth but unreliable.
Definition: Evasive and insincere.
- Example 1: His assurances were as slippery as a politician’s promise, never fulfilled.
- Example 2: She was as slippery as a politician’s promise, dodging accountability.
As treacherous as a hidden reef
Meaning: Refers to someone who seems safe but causes harm unexpectedly.
Definition: Dangerous and deceptive.
- Example 1: His friendship was as treacherous as a hidden reef, sinking our trust.
- Example 2: She was as treacherous as a hidden reef, betraying us quietly.
As unreliable as a cracked foundation
Meaning: Describes someone whose support or promises collapse under pressure.
Definition: Unstable and untrustworthy.
- Example 1: His loyalty was as unreliable as a cracked foundation, crumbling fast.
- Example 2: Trusting her was like building on a cracked foundation—doomed to fail.
Spark Your Words: Creative Ways to Use These Similes
Similes for untrustworthy people can transform your writing, adding depth and vivid imagery. Here’s how to weave them into different creative outlets:
- Poetry: Use similes to evoke emotion. For example, “Her promises, as hollow as an empty promise, echoed in my heart” adds a haunting tone to a poem about betrayal.
- Stories: Paint complex characters. A villain described as “sly as a serpent” instantly signals danger, while “wobbly as a loose wheel” can hint at a flawed ally.
- Songs: Similes create memorable lyrics. A line like “You’re as slippery as a greased pig, dodging my love” adds a catchy, relatable vibe.
- Essays: Add flair to arguments. Describing a dishonest politician as “crooked as a bent nail” makes your critique vivid and engaging.
- Tips:
- Match the simile to the tone—serious for essays, playful for lighthearted stories.
- Pair similes with sensory details for impact (e.g., “His shifty-as-a-fox grin gleamed in the dim light”).
- Avoid overuse; one strong simile per paragraph keeps it fresh.
FAQs
### What is a simile in simple terms?
A simile compares two unlike things using “like” or “as” to create a vivid image, like saying someone is “as sneaky as a cat in the dark.”
### Why use similes to describe untrustworthy people?
Similes make descriptions memorable and engaging, helping readers visualize deceitful traits clearly and emotionally.
### Can similes be used in professional writing?
Yes, when used sparingly, similes like “as unreliable as a broken clock” add clarity and flair to essays or reports.
### How do similes improve storytelling?
Similes create vivid characters and emotions, making stories relatable and immersive, like describing a traitor as “treacherous as quicksand.”
### Are these similes suitable for all audiences?
Most are universal, but consider context—similes like “shady as a back-alley deal” may need tweaking for formal or young audiences.
Conclusion
Similes bring untrustworthy characters to life with vivid, relatable imagery, making your writing stand out. From slippery eels to crooked nails, these comparisons capture the essence of deceit in creative ways.
Sprinkle them into your poems, stories, or essays to engage readers and spark imagination. Try crafting your own similes, too, and watch your words weave magic!
