See Also: GAIETY, HAPPINESS, JOY

1. As much fun as a newborn kitten —Mary Hood
2. As rewarding as a message from Billy Graham —Anon blurb about a romantic novel
3. A decided pleasure … as sweet as returning soldiers sometimes admit the act of killing to be —John Updike

   The simile from Updike’s novel, Roger’s Version, refers to the pleasure of affronting public opinion.

4. Enjoyed [the difficulties of a job] … as a good fighter loves a battle —Frank Swinnerton
5. Fun is like life insurance, the older you get the more it costs —Abe Martin

   Frank McKinney Hubbard, also known as Kin Hubbard and Abe Martin, often wrote in country dialect. In the above simile, for example, he used ‘git’ instead of ‘get.’

6. It’s (talking on the telephone) as good as a warm bath and a glass of milk —Enid Nemy, quoting Hazel Duke’s telephone habits, New York Times/New Yorkers, August 24, 1986
7. It was marvelous, like seeing a capsized boat right itself, and knowing no serious damage had been done —John Fowles
8. Luxuriating like a fucked-out lion —John Updike
9. Pleased as a well tipped waiter —Anon
10. Pleased, like a young housewife going through her house and finding everything in good order —Isak Dinesen
11. Pleasure came like a lash —Julio Cortázar
12. Pleasure is frail like a dewdrop, while it laughs it dies —Sir Rabindranath Tagore
13. Pleasure is like a massive dose of vitamins —Anon
14. Pleasures are like poppies spread —Robert Burns
15. Pleasures are more beneficial than duties, because, like the quality of mercy, they are not strained, and they are twice blest —Robert Louis Stevenson
16. Pleasures are much like mushrooms. The right kind are fine, but you have to be on the lookout for the toadstools —Boston Transcript, May 21, 1921
17. Relish … like a robin-redbreast —William Shakespeare
18. (She was as) satisfying as the morning breeze —Frank Swinnerton
19. Savor experience as naturally as he accepts the prismatic blessing of sunshine glancing through the glass he holds —Francis X. Clines, New York Times, October 19, 1986

    Clines’ subject is television writer John Mortimer.

20. Snarl at pleasure like a stoic —Lord Chesterfield
21. Snatches a crumb of pleasure like a dog snapping up a bone amid a host of dangers —Honoré de Balzac