Sometimes, we don’t understand something right away. It might be a hard math problem, a confusing story, or even what a friend says. People use funny or interesting ways to talk about these moments. One fun way is by using similes. Similes compare two things using the words “like” or “as.” They help make language more fun and clear.
In this article, you’ll learn different similes that people use when someone doesn’t understand something. These similes are used in everyday talking, books, and shows. They don’t mean the exact words, but they help show how a person feels or acts when they don’t get what’s going on. You’ll see how to use these similes and get to try them in a short story too. Let’s get started.
Similes for Not Understanding
1. As lost as a goose in a snowstorm
Meaning: Very confused
Give an Instance: I was as lost as a goose in a snowstorm during that math lesson. / She looked as lost as a goose in a snowstorm at the science fair.
Substitute Meaning: Didn’t know what was going on / Super confused
2. As blank as a sheet of paper
Meaning: Showing no understanding
Give an Instance: His face was as blank as a sheet of paper when the teacher asked the question. / I felt as blank as a sheet of paper during the test.
Substitute Meaning: Had no clue / Empty-headed
3. As puzzled as a cat in a dog park
Meaning: Not knowing what to do
Give an Instance: She looked as puzzled as a cat in a dog park during the group game. / I felt as puzzled as a cat in a dog park at lunch today.
Substitute Meaning: Totally unsure / Super confused
4. As confused as a chameleon in a bag of Skittles
Meaning: Overwhelmed with too much information
Give an Instance: I was as confused as a chameleon in a bag of Skittles when the instructions came too fast. / He was as confused as a chameleon in a bag of Skittles in music class.
Substitute Meaning: Had no idea what to do / Couldn’t make sense of anything
5. As clueless as a fish on a bicycle
Meaning: Not knowing anything
Give an Instance: She was as clueless as a fish on a bicycle when we started the new game. / I felt as clueless as a fish on a bicycle in art class.
Substitute Meaning: Totally lost / Didn’t get it at all
6. As mixed up as a bowl of spaghetti
Meaning: Thoughts are jumbled
Give an Instance: My brain felt as mixed up as a bowl of spaghetti during the quiz. / He looked as mixed up as a bowl of spaghetti in gym class.
Substitute Meaning: Everything felt scrambled / All over the place
7. As unsure as a squirrel crossing traffic
Meaning: Feeling nervous and confused
Give an Instance: I was as unsure as a squirrel crossing traffic before answering. / She felt as unsure as a squirrel in the middle of a road.
Substitute Meaning: Didn’t feel ready / Full of doubt
8. As lost as last year’s homework
Meaning: Totally forgotten or confused
Give an Instance: He was as lost as last year’s homework during the lesson. / I felt as lost as last year’s homework in the spelling test.
Substitute Meaning: No idea / Missing all the clues
9. As baffled as a penguin in the desert
Meaning: Completely out of place
Give an Instance: I was as baffled as a penguin in the desert when the topic changed. / She looked as baffled as a penguin in the desert in the lunch line.
Substitute Meaning: Totally confused / Didn’t belong
10. As blank as a TV with no signal
Meaning: Not showing any understanding
Give an Instance: His eyes were as blank as a TV with no signal during the history lesson. / I felt as blank as a TV with no signal when the teacher called on me.
Substitute Meaning: Didn’t get it / Mind was empty
11. As puzzled as a chicken doing math
Meaning: Very confused
Give an Instance: She looked as puzzled as a chicken doing math when we explained the rules. / I felt as puzzled as a chicken doing math in computer class.
Substitute Meaning: Didn’t get it / Completely lost
12. As clueless as a duck in a thunderstorm
Meaning: Not knowing what’s happening
Give an Instance: He was as clueless as a duck in a thunderstorm when the bell rang. / I felt as clueless as a duck in a thunderstorm when everyone started reading.
Substitute Meaning: Very unsure / Didn’t understand anything
13. As mixed up as puzzle pieces in the wrong box
Meaning: Confused and out of order
Give an Instance: My notes were as mixed up as puzzle pieces in the wrong box. / She sounded as mixed up as puzzle pieces in the wrong box during her speech.
Substitute Meaning: Not clear / Messy thinking
14. As blank as an empty chalkboard
Meaning: Having no thoughts or ideas
Give an Instance: My brain was as blank as an empty chalkboard when I saw the test. / He looked as blank as an empty chalkboard when the teacher explained it.
Substitute Meaning: No ideas / Couldn’t think
15. As confused as a dog watching TV
Meaning: Not understanding what’s going on
Give an Instance: She was as confused as a dog watching TV in math class. / I felt as confused as a dog watching TV during the science video.
Substitute Meaning: Didn’t follow / Didn’t understand
16. As lost as a balloon in the sky
Meaning: Far from understanding
Give an Instance: My thoughts were as lost as a balloon in the sky during the quiz. / He felt as lost as a balloon floating away.
Substitute Meaning: Very distant / Totally confused
17. As slow as a snail in a race
Meaning: Taking a long time to understand
Give an Instance: I was as slow as a snail in a race figuring out that problem. / She was as slow as a snail in a race during the lesson.
Substitute Meaning: Took too long / Struggled to get it
18. As jumbled as a messy locker
Meaning: All mixed up inside
Give an Instance: My ideas were as jumbled as a messy locker during the writing test. / He was as jumbled as a messy locker explaining his answer.
Substitute Meaning: Unclear / Confused thinking
19. As off-track as a train in a cornfield
Meaning: Completely wrong
Give an Instance: My guess was as off-track as a train in a cornfield. / She was as off-track as a train in a cornfield when solving the puzzle.
Substitute Meaning: Totally wrong / Didn’t understand the point
20. As spaced out as a rocket in deep space
Meaning: Not paying attention
Give an Instance: I was as spaced out as a rocket in deep space during the lesson. / He looked as spaced out as a rocket in deep space during reading time.
Substitute Meaning: Not focused / Daydreaming
21. As unsure as a baby deer on ice
Meaning: Nervous and not steady
Give an Instance: She was as unsure as a baby deer on ice answering the question. / I felt as unsure as a baby deer on ice during the quiz.
Substitute Meaning: Very nervous / Not confident
22. As lost as socks in a dryer
Meaning: Completely gone or missing understanding
Give an Instance: His ideas were as lost as socks in a dryer. / I felt as lost as socks in a dryer after missing class.
Substitute Meaning: Didn’t know anything / Out of it
23. As confused as a bee in a balloon store
Meaning: Not sure where to go or what to do
Give an Instance: I was as confused as a bee in a balloon store at the party. / She felt as confused as a bee in a balloon store in the hallway.
Substitute Meaning: Very unsure / Lost and puzzled
24. As mixed up as crayons in a blender
Meaning: Total confusion
Give an Instance: Her story was as mixed up as crayons in a blender. / My thoughts were as mixed up as crayons in a blender during the test.
Substitute Meaning: All over the place / Confused
25. As clueless as a snowman in summer
Meaning: Doesn’t belong or understand
Give an Instance: I felt as clueless as a snowman in summer during Spanish class. / He looked as clueless as a snowman in summer at the assembly.
Substitute Meaning: Out of place / Didn’t get it
26. As blank as a turned-off screen
Meaning: Showing no reaction or understanding
Give an Instance: His face was as blank as a turned-off screen during the review. / She looked as blank as a turned-off screen when the bell rang.
Substitute Meaning: No clue / No idea
27. As slow as syrup in winter
Meaning: Very slow to figure things out
Give an Instance: I was as slow as syrup in winter solving the puzzle. / He was as slow as syrup in winter to raise his hand.
Substitute Meaning: Took forever / Slow to think
28. As puzzled as a robot in a swimming pool
Meaning: Not in the right place to understand
Give an Instance: I felt as puzzled as a robot in a swimming pool during art class. / She looked as puzzled as a robot in a swimming pool at the assembly.
Substitute Meaning: Didn’t belong / Couldn’t understand
29. As confused as jelly on a rollercoaster
Meaning: Shaky and all over the place
Give an Instance: His answer was as confused as jelly on a rollercoaster. / I felt as confused as jelly on a rollercoaster during the lesson.
Substitute Meaning: Very mixed up / Not clear
30. As empty as a cookie jar after a party
Meaning: Nothing in the mind
Give an Instance: My brain felt as empty as a cookie jar after a party. / She looked as empty as a cookie jar when asked the question.
Substitute Meaning: Couldn’t think / Totally blank
31. As out of it as a penguin at the beach
Meaning: Totally in the wrong place or state of mind
Give an Instance: I felt as out of it as a penguin at the beach during math class. / He looked as out of it as a penguin at the beach in the spelling test.
Substitute Meaning: Didn’t fit in / Had no idea
32. As blank as Monday morning
Meaning: Empty and not ready
Give an Instance: Her notebook was as blank as Monday morning. / I was as blank as Monday morning when the teacher said “Pop quiz.”
Substitute Meaning: Nothing in mind / Not ready to think
33. As puzzled as popcorn in a freezer
Meaning: In a confusing place or moment
Give an Instance: He looked as puzzled as popcorn in a freezer when the lights went out. / I felt as puzzled as popcorn in a freezer at lunch.
Substitute Meaning: Very confused / Didn’t make sense
34. As slow to catch on as a turtle learning to dance
Meaning: Learning very slowly
Give an Instance: I was as slow to catch on as a turtle learning to dance during the new game. / She felt as slow to catch on as a turtle in music class.
Substitute Meaning: Took a long time to understand / Very slow
35. As confused as a bat in daylight
Meaning: Totally unsure in a strange situation
Give an Instance: I was as confused as a bat in daylight at the school meeting. / He looked as confused as a bat in daylight during gym.
Substitute Meaning: Very unsure / Lost
36. As off as socks on a rooster
Meaning: Doesn’t belong or make sense
Give an Instance: Her guess was as off as socks on a rooster. / I felt as off as socks on a rooster giving that answer.
Substitute Meaning: Totally wrong / Didn’t match
37. As spaced out as cookies without chocolate chips
Meaning: Missing something important
Give an Instance: I felt as spaced out as cookies without chocolate chips during the spelling test. / He was as spaced out as cookies without chocolate chips during reading time.
Substitute Meaning: Not all there / Missing key info
38. As puzzled as a pizza at breakfast
Meaning: Confused in the wrong setting
Give an Instance: She looked as puzzled as a pizza at breakfast during the class meeting. / I was as puzzled as a pizza at breakfast during show-and-tell.
Substitute Meaning: Out of place / Didn’t understand
39. As blank as a snow-covered field
Meaning: Clear with no clues
Give an Instance: My mind was as blank as a snow-covered field on test day. / He looked as blank as a snow-covered field during the lecture.
Substitute Meaning: Totally empty / Had nothing
40. As unsure as ketchup on cereal
Meaning: Something that doesn’t go together
Give an Instance: That answer felt as unsure as ketchup on cereal. / I was as unsure as ketchup on cereal about my idea.
Substitute Meaning: Didn’t make sense / Not right
41. As lost as a kite without string
Meaning: Floating without direction
Give an Instance: She felt as lost as a kite without string during the group work. / I was as lost as a kite without string in that lesson.
Substitute Meaning: No direction / Very confused
42. As clueless as a sandwich without bread
Meaning: Missing something really important
Give an Instance: My answer was as clueless as a sandwich without bread. / He was as clueless as a sandwich without bread on that worksheet.
Substitute Meaning: Didn’t make sense / Lacking the main part
43. As off-target as a soccer ball in the parking lot
Meaning: Completely wrong answer
Give an Instance: My guess was as off-target as a soccer ball in the parking lot. / She felt as off-target as a soccer ball in the parking lot during trivia.
Substitute Meaning: Not close / Way off
44. As foggy as a window in winter
Meaning: Hard to see or think clearly
Give an Instance: My thoughts were as foggy as a window in winter during the pop quiz. / She was as foggy as a window in winter after recess.
Substitute Meaning: Couldn’t think clearly / Very unclear
45. As scrambled as eggs on Sunday morning
Meaning: All mixed up
Give an Instance: His story was as scrambled as eggs on Sunday morning. / I felt as scrambled as eggs on Sunday morning during math class.
Substitute Meaning: Mixed up thoughts / Confused
Find the “Similes for Not Understanding”
Reading Passage
It was the first day of group projects in Ms. Bell’s class. Everyone was excited—except Ryan. As the instructions were given, Ryan looked as blank as a turned-off screen. He tried to follow along, but his thoughts were as scrambled as eggs on Sunday morning.
Next to him, Layla was already drawing plans, but Ryan felt as clueless as a snowman in summer. When his group asked him what he thought, his face looked as blank as Monday morning. “Are you okay?” asked Kayla, noticing he seemed a bit off.
“I’m as lost as socks in a dryer,” Ryan said with a laugh. “This whole thing has me as jumbled as a messy locker.” The others smiled and helped him get started. Still, Ryan felt as confused as a bee in a balloon store while looking at the papers.
Later, Ms. Bell came over. Ryan was still staring at the page, looking as puzzled as popcorn in a freezer. “Let’s talk this through,” she said kindly. Even with help, Ryan admitted, “I’m still as mixed up as a bowl of spaghetti.”
“That’s okay,” Ms. Bell said. “We’ll figure it out together.”
Student Task
Read the story again. Find and underline or list all the similes used that show someone didn’t understand something.
Answer Key
- As blank as a turned-off screen
- As scrambled as eggs on Sunday morning
- As clueless as a snowman in summer
- As blank as Monday morning
- As lost as socks in a dryer
- As jumbled as a messy locker
- As confused as a bee in a balloon store
- As puzzled as popcorn in a freezer
- As mixed up as a bowl of spaghetti
Conclusion
Similes help explain how people feel when they don’t understand something. Instead of just saying “I don’t get it,” we can use fun and clear comparisons. These similes make writing more interesting and easy to imagine.
When someone feels as lost as a kite without string or as blank as a sheet of paper, we know exactly what they mean. By using these similes, you can describe moments of confusion in a way others will understand. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll use these phrases like a pro.
