Sometimes, we just don’t get what someone is saying. Maybe a lesson feels too tricky. Maybe a story seems confusing. That’s okay. Everyone has times when they don’t understand something right away.
To help explain this, people often use similes. A simile compares two things using the words “like” or “as.” These comparisons can make tricky ideas easier to talk about. In this article, we will look at fun similes that show what it feels like to not understand something. They are easy to remember and help us share our thoughts.
Similes for Not Understanding
1. Like a deer in headlights
Meaning: Feeling frozen or confused.
To Provide an Example: I looked at the hard question like a deer in headlights. / He stood still like a deer in headlights when the teacher called on him.
Alternative Meaning: Not sure what to do. / Feeling stuck.
2. Like a fish out of water
Meaning: Feeling out of place or confused.
To Provide an Example: I felt like a fish out of water in the new class. / She looked lost like a fish out of water during the math game.
Alternative Meaning: Not feeling comfortable. / Not knowing what’s going on.
3. Like trying to read a cloud
Meaning: Hard to understand.
To Provide an Example: That story was like trying to read a cloud. / The directions were like trying to read a cloud.
Alternative Meaning: Can’t see clearly. / Very confusing.
4. Like a TV with no sound
Meaning: Not getting the message.
To Provide an Example: I didn’t get the joke—it was like a TV with no sound. / The lesson felt like a TV with no sound to me.
Alternative Meaning: Something is missing. / Can’t figure it out.
5. Like a puzzle with missing pieces
Meaning: Something is confusing or incomplete.
To Provide an Example: The math problem felt like a puzzle with missing pieces. / I couldn’t understand the story—it was like a puzzle with missing pieces.
Alternative Meaning: Something didn’t make sense. / Not all the parts are there.
6. Like reading upside down
Meaning: Very hard to follow.
To Provide an Example: The spelling test felt like reading upside down. / That book was like reading upside down.
Alternative Meaning: Not clear. / Too tricky to understand.
7. Like a foggy window
Meaning: Can’t see or understand well.
To Provide an Example: The lesson was like a foggy window. / I looked at the picture and it was like a foggy window.
Alternative Meaning: Not clear. / Blurry or confusing.
8. Like listening with earmuffs
Meaning: Not hearing or understanding well.
To Provide an Example: I couldn’t hear the teacher—it was like listening with earmuffs. / It felt like listening with earmuffs when the directions were read.
Alternative Meaning: Not getting the full message. / Something is blocking understanding.
9. Like trying to grab smoke
Meaning: Can’t catch the idea.
To Provide an Example: Understanding the riddle was like trying to grab smoke. / The answer felt like trying to grab smoke.
Alternative Meaning: Out of reach. / Slipping away.
10. Like a scrambled egg
Meaning: Feeling mixed up.
To Provide an Example: My thoughts were like a scrambled egg during the test. / His story was like a scrambled egg.
Alternative Meaning: All mixed up. / Not clear.
11. Like a broken compass
Meaning: Not sure where to go.
To Provide an Example: I felt like a broken compass during math. / My brain was like a broken compass in science.
Alternative Meaning: Lost. / Confused about what to do.
12. Like looking for stars in the daytime
Meaning: Hard to find answers.
To Provide an Example: Finding the meaning was like looking for stars in the daytime. / That book felt like looking for stars in the daytime.
Alternative Meaning: Impossible to understand. / No clear answer.
13. Like a dog chasing its tail
Meaning: Going in circles without understanding.
To Provide an Example: I read the page three times—it was like a dog chasing its tail. / My brain felt like a dog chasing its tail.
Alternative Meaning: Trying but not getting anywhere. / No progress.
14. Like hearing words in a storm
Meaning: Can’t catch what’s being said.
To Provide an Example: The story was like hearing words in a storm. / His answer was like words in a storm.
Alternative Meaning: Can’t hear well. / Very confusing.
15. Like a maze with no exit
Meaning: Stuck and confused.
To Provide an Example: That lesson felt like a maze with no exit. / I was in a maze with no exit during the spelling test.
Alternative Meaning: No way out. / Can’t figure it out.
16. Like a book with no words
Meaning: Nothing makes sense.
To Provide an Example: I looked at the paper like it was a book with no words. / The test felt like a book with no words.
Alternative Meaning: Empty understanding. / Can’t read the meaning.
17. Like trying to open a locked door
Meaning: Can’t get the answer.
To Provide an Example: The riddle was like trying to open a locked door. / It felt like a locked door in my brain.
Alternative Meaning: Blocked. / Not working.
18. Like dancing with two left feet
Meaning: Not doing it right.
To Provide an Example: I tried the steps but felt like dancing with two left feet. / It was like dancing wrong the whole time.
Alternative Meaning: Messy. / Not going well.
19. Like a phone with no signal
Meaning: Can’t get the message.
To Provide an Example: I felt like a phone with no signal during the lesson. / My brain was like a phone with no signal.
Alternative Meaning: Disconnected. / Can’t understand.
20. Like colors without a picture
Meaning: The parts don’t fit.
To Provide an Example: I saw the words, but they were like colors without a picture. / His answer felt like colors with no picture.
Alternative Meaning: Missing the full idea. / No clear meaning.
21. Like a map with no roads
Meaning: Can’t find the way.
To Provide an Example: The worksheet was like a map with no roads. / I felt lost, like using a map with no roads.
Alternative Meaning: No direction. / Don’t know where to go.
22. Like listening to a robot speak
Meaning: Hard to understand.
To Provide an Example: That long word sounded like a robot speaking. / His voice was like listening to a robot.
Alternative Meaning: No feeling. / Confusing sounds.
23. Like shoes on the wrong feet
Meaning: Something feels off.
To Provide an Example: The answers felt like shoes on the wrong feet. / That idea was like shoes on the wrong feet.
Alternative Meaning: Not right. / Doesn’t fit.
24. Like a recipe with no steps
Meaning: No idea how to begin.
To Provide an Example: The project was like a recipe with no steps. / That art plan was like a recipe with nothing to follow.
Alternative Meaning: Don’t know what to do. / No guide.
25. Like reading with your eyes closed
Meaning: Can’t understand at all.
To Provide an Example: The story felt like reading with my eyes closed. / I sat there like I was reading with closed eyes.
Alternative Meaning: Not getting anything. / No understanding.
26. Like being in the wrong movie
Meaning: Not knowing what’s going on.
To Provide an Example: I felt like I was in the wrong movie during music class. / That moment was like being in the wrong movie.
Alternative Meaning: Confused. / Doesn’t make sense.
27. Like a car with no gas
Meaning: Can’t go forward.
To Provide an Example: My brain was like a car with no gas during the quiz. / I sat stuck like a car with no gas.
Alternative Meaning: No energy. / Not moving.
28. Like trying to count stars
Meaning: Too much to understand.
To Provide an Example: That chart was like trying to count stars. / It felt like counting stars when I read that book.
Alternative Meaning: Overwhelming. / Too many pieces.
29. Like a bird without wings
Meaning: Can’t do the task.
To Provide an Example: I felt like a bird without wings during reading time. / That test made me feel like a bird with no wings.
Alternative Meaning: Not able to understand. / No way to succeed.
30. Like snow in the summer
Meaning: Something doesn’t belong.
To Provide an Example: The story felt like snow in the summer. / His answer was like snow in the summer.
Alternative Meaning: Out of place. / Doesn’t fit.
31. Like a picture with no colors
Meaning: Missing something important.
To Provide an Example: The chart was like a picture with no colors. / Her drawing was like a picture with no colors.
Alternative Meaning: Incomplete. / Not full.
32. Like singing the wrong song
Meaning: Not matching.
To Provide an Example: My answer was like singing the wrong song. / That idea felt like singing the wrong tune.
Alternative Meaning: Doesn’t fit. / Not right.
33. Like watching TV with your eyes closed
Meaning: Can’t understand anything.
To Provide an Example: The class was like TV with my eyes closed. / The story made no sense—like eyes closed on TV.
Alternative Meaning: Confused. / No clue.
34. Like baking a cake with no oven
Meaning: Missing what you need.
To Provide an Example: My brain felt like baking a cake with no oven. / That idea was like trying to bake with no heat.
Alternative Meaning: Can’t do it. / Not working.
35. Like looking at a tangled ball of yarn
Meaning: A big mess.
To Provide an Example: My thoughts were like a tangled ball of yarn. / That plan looked like a ball of yarn.
Alternative Meaning: All mixed up. / Messy thinking.
36. Like a song with no tune
Meaning: Can’t follow it.
To Provide an Example: That story was like a song with no tune. / His joke was like a tune-less song.
Alternative Meaning: Makes no sense. / Flat and confusing.
37. Like running with tied shoes
Meaning: Can’t do it right.
To Provide an Example: I tried the test but felt like I had tied shoes. / It was like running with tied shoes.
Alternative Meaning: Held back. / Hard to do.
38. Like building with no blocks
Meaning: No tools to help.
To Provide an Example: The test felt like building with no blocks. / I had no idea, like missing blocks.
Alternative Meaning: Not ready. / Not possible.
39. Like a story with no ending
Meaning: Incomplete understanding.
To Provide an Example: My answer was like a story with no ending. / That book felt like no ending at all.
Alternative Meaning: Something missing. / No finish.
40. Like a flashlight with no batteries
Meaning: Can’t light the way.
To Provide an Example: My brain was like a flashlight with no batteries. / I felt stuck like a flashlight that won’t turn on.
Alternative Meaning: No power. / Not working.
41. Like a sandwich with no filling
Meaning: Something’s missing.
To Provide an Example: That answer was like a sandwich with no filling. / My idea felt empty like that.
Alternative Meaning: Lacking. / Not enough.
42. Like writing with no pen
Meaning: Can’t do the job.
To Provide an Example: I felt like writing with no pen during the test. / My brain was like writing with no pen.
Alternative Meaning: Can’t start. / No way to work.
43. Like playing a game without rules
Meaning: No idea how to play.
To Provide an Example: That lesson felt like a game with no rules. / I had no clue, like rule-less play.
Alternative Meaning: Too messy. / No guide.
44. Like a song with no words
Meaning: Missing the message.
To Provide an Example: I heard the story like a song with no words. / It made no sense, like a wordless song.
Alternative Meaning: Not clear. / Can’t follow.
45. Like driving with no map
Meaning: Don’t know the way.
To Provide an Example: The test felt like driving with no map. / That riddle was like being lost in a car.
Alternative Meaning: Confused. / No path.
46. Like blowing bubbles in the wind
Meaning: The idea keeps flying away.
To Provide an Example: My answer kept popping like blowing bubbles in the wind. / That lesson felt just like that.
Alternative Meaning: Can’t hold on. / Gone too fast.
47. Like a bell with no ring
Meaning: No meaning or sound.
To Provide an Example: Her answer was like a bell with no ring. / That part felt empty, like no bell sound.
Alternative Meaning: No result. / Doesn’t work.
48. Like socks that don’t match
Meaning: Doesn’t make sense.
To Provide an Example: My ideas were like socks that don’t match. / That story was the same.
Alternative Meaning: Not right. / Doesn’t go together.
49. Like a kite with no string
Meaning: Lost and floating.
To Provide an Example: My brain felt like a kite with no string. / That story left me floating.
Alternative Meaning: No control. / All over the place.
50. Like a clock with no hands
Meaning: No way to tell what’s going on.
To Provide an Example: That idea was like a clock with no hands. / I couldn’t follow—it made no sense.
Alternative Meaning: No clue about time or steps. / All mixed up.
Trials for Success: Similes for Not Understanding
- I looked at the math problem like a ______ in headlights.
- During science, I felt like a fish out of ______.
- That story was confusing, like reading ______ down.
- The class felt like a ______ window—I couldn’t see the idea.
- I tried hard, but my brain was like a ______ with no gas.
- Her joke made no sense, like a ______ with no sound.
- I felt stuck, like trying to open a locked ______.
- My thoughts were all mixed up, like a ______ egg.
- The chart was too busy, like trying to count ______.
- His answer was like a puzzle with missing ______.
- I was lost in class, like a bird without ______.
- That idea felt like a recipe with no ______.
- My brain was empty, like a book with no ______.
- The project felt like building with no ______.
- I gave up, like a phone with no ______.
Answer Key
- deer
- water
- upside
- foggy
- car
- TV
- door
- scrambled
- stars
- pieces
- wings
- steps
- words
- blocks
- signal
Conclusion
Sometimes, we feel confused. That’s okay. Everyone has moments when they don’t understand something right away. Similes help us explain those moments in a fun and simple way. They use pictures in words to show how we feel.
Now you know many similes for when something feels tricky or unclear. Try using one the next time you feel stuck. It helps others understand you better—and that’s a smart way to learn and grow.
