Sometimes we talk about time in fun ways. Instead of saying something took “a long time,” we might say it felt like “forever” or “like waiting for paint to dry.” These are called similes. Similes compare two things using the words “like” or “as.” They help us explain ideas in ways that are easy to picture.
In this article, you’ll learn many similes that show how something takes a long time. People use them when they wait for food, stand in line, or sit through a boring class. These phrases can make your talking and writing more fun. Let’s find out some cool ways to describe time that feels like it just won’t end.
Similes for Long Time
1. Like watching paint dry
Meaning: Very slow and boring
Give an Instance: Waiting for my brother to finish his homework was like watching paint dry. / That long school assembly felt like watching paint dry.
Substitute Meaning: Took forever / Super slow
2. Like a never-ending story
Meaning: Something that goes on and on
Give an Instance: Her story about her weekend was like a never-ending story. / That movie felt like a never-ending story.
Substitute Meaning: Goes on forever / Too long
3. Like a turtle in a race
Meaning: Very slow
Give an Instance: Our car in traffic moved like a turtle in a race. / He walked to school like a turtle in a race.
Substitute Meaning: Very slow / Taking forever
4. Like a long, winding road
Meaning: Something that feels like it will never end
Give an Instance: The line at the theme park was like a long, winding road. / The hike felt like a long, winding road.
Substitute Meaning: Seemed endless / Never-ending path
5. Like waiting for Christmas
Meaning: Something exciting that takes a long time to happen
Give an Instance: Waiting for my birthday felt like waiting for Christmas. / The school trip felt like waiting for Christmas.
Substitute Meaning: Hard to wait for / Long wait
6. Like a clock with no hands
Meaning: Time is not moving
Give an Instance: That class felt like sitting by a clock with no hands. / Homework time was like a clock with no hands.
Substitute Meaning: Time standing still / Not moving
7. Like a rain that never stops
Meaning: Keeps going too long
Give an Instance: The teacher’s lecture was like a rain that never stops. / My chores were like a rain that never stops.
Substitute Meaning: Too long / Never-ending
8. Like a sleepy snail
Meaning: Very slow to move or finish
Give an Instance: My baby sister eats like a sleepy snail. / Getting ready in the morning was like a sleepy snail.
Substitute Meaning: Super slow / Hard to finish
9. Like waiting in a never-moving line
Meaning: Feels like it won’t end
Give an Instance: The line at the cafeteria was like waiting in a never-moving line. / Waiting at the dentist felt the same.
Substitute Meaning: Very long wait / Feels stuck
10. Like reading a book with no last page
Meaning: Goes on and on
Give an Instance: The homework packet was like reading a book with no last page. / That meeting felt the same.
Substitute Meaning: Never-ending / Very long
11. Like waiting for cookies to bake
Meaning: Exciting but slow
Give an Instance: Waiting for recess was like waiting for cookies to bake. / The end of the movie felt the same.
Substitute Meaning: Slow but worth it / Took too long
12. Like holding your breath forever
Meaning: Too long to stay still or quiet
Give an Instance: Being quiet during the test was like holding my breath forever. / Waiting for my name to be called was just like that.
Substitute Meaning: So long / Hard to wait
13. Like a sleepy afternoon
Meaning: Feels slow and never-ending
Give an Instance: The car ride home was like a sleepy afternoon. / Our history class felt like a sleepy afternoon.
Substitute Meaning: Dragging on / Felt long
14. Like being stuck in a loop
Meaning: Same thing over and over
Give an Instance: The chores felt like being stuck in a loop. / Every Monday feels like being stuck in a loop.
Substitute Meaning: Repeats too much / Never ends
15. Like waiting for the sun to rise
Meaning: Takes too long
Give an Instance: Getting to the fun part of the movie was like waiting for the sun to rise. / The bus coming felt the same.
Substitute Meaning: Long wait / Too slow
16. Like walking in wet sand
Meaning: Slow and tiring
Give an Instance: Writing the essay felt like walking in wet sand. / Cleaning my room was the same.
Substitute Meaning: Hard and long / Dragged out
17. Like a slow song that never ends
Meaning: Takes too long to finish
Give an Instance: That story she told was like a slow song that never ends. / The lesson felt the same.
Substitute Meaning: Endless / Very slow
18. Like a traffic jam at midnight
Meaning: Slow and makes no sense
Give an Instance: Our internet was like a traffic jam at midnight. / Waiting at the pharmacy felt like that too.
Substitute Meaning: Unusual delay / Feels forever
19. Like a snow day with no snow
Meaning: Boring and slow
Give an Instance: The power outage was like a snow day with no snow. / Staying home sick felt like that.
Substitute Meaning: Dull and long / Nothing happening
20. Like waiting for popcorn to pop
Meaning: Small action takes forever
Give an Instance: Watching that ad before the video was like waiting for popcorn to pop. / Waiting for Dad to park the car was the same.
Substitute Meaning: Tiny wait that feels huge / Slow start
21. Like counting every grain of rice
Meaning: A task that feels endless
Give an Instance: Sorting the puzzle pieces felt like counting every grain of rice. / Folding socks was like that too.
Substitute Meaning: Tiny job that takes forever / No end in sight
22. Like a movie with too many endings
Meaning: Should be over but isn’t
Give an Instance: The school assembly was like a movie with too many endings. / That speech felt the same.
Substitute Meaning: Overstays / Goes on and on
23. Like a cold day with no jacket
Meaning: Time slows because it’s uncomfortable
Give an Instance: Recess without my coat was like a cold day with no jacket. / The walk to school felt like that.
Substitute Meaning: Slow and hard / Feels longer
24. Like spelling out the dictionary
Meaning: Very long and full of work
Give an Instance: My report on animals felt like spelling out the dictionary. / The math test was the same.
Substitute Meaning: Big task / Feels never-ending
25. Like a hallway that keeps stretching
Meaning: Every step feels like more to go
Give an Instance: The line to the roller coaster was like a hallway that keeps stretching. / The run during PE felt that way.
Substitute Meaning: Long and growing / Never close
26. Like holding ice until it melts
Meaning: Painful and takes too long
Give an Instance: Waiting to ask the teacher a question was like holding ice until it melts. / Waiting in line at lunch felt that way.
Substitute Meaning: Tough wait / Very slow
27. Like a song stuck on one note
Meaning: Repeating and long
Give an Instance: That reading passage was like a song stuck on one note. / Cleaning windows felt the same.
Substitute Meaning: Repetitive / Feels like forever
28. Like a river with no end
Meaning: Goes on and on
Give an Instance: The story time was like a river with no end. / That TV episode was the same.
Substitute Meaning: Long and endless / No stop
29. Like rain with no clouds
Meaning: Strange and slow
Give an Instance: That wait was like rain with no clouds. / The delay after school felt like that.
Substitute Meaning: Odd and long / Unclear wait
30. Like trying to fill a bottomless jar
Meaning: Work that never ends
Give an Instance: Picking up Legos was like trying to fill a bottomless jar. / Putting away toys felt the same.
Substitute Meaning: No matter what, it’s not done / Never-ending
31. Like waiting for ice to freeze
Meaning: Takes a long time to happen
Give an Instance: The end of the school year felt like waiting for ice to freeze. / Waiting for Mom to finish shopping was just like that.
Substitute Meaning: Slow to happen / Felt endless
32. Like a parade that never ends
Meaning: Keeps going too long
Give an Instance: That slideshow felt like a parade that never ends. / The project instructions were like that too.
Substitute Meaning: Keeps coming / Doesn’t stop
33. Like glue drying in winter
Meaning: Very slow process
Give an Instance: The glue on my art project was like glue drying in winter. / Waiting for the bell was the same.
Substitute Meaning: Slow as possible / Takes too long
34. Like waiting for grass to grow
Meaning: Boring and takes forever
Give an Instance: The game loading screen felt like waiting for grass to grow. / My sister getting ready was like that too.
Substitute Meaning: Really slow / Feels like forever
35. Like walking in molasses
Meaning: Feels heavy and slow
Give an Instance: Walking to the bus on a cold morning was like walking in molasses. / The last minutes of the test were like that too.
Substitute Meaning: Heavy and slow / Time dragging
36. Like a balloon that won’t pop
Meaning: Something you expect to end but doesn’t
Give an Instance: That game timer was like a balloon that won’t pop. / The teacher’s story felt the same.
Substitute Meaning: Should be over / Still going
37. Like counting stars in the sky
Meaning: Seems endless
Give an Instance: Writing my science notes felt like counting stars in the sky. / Cleaning the garage was like that too.
Substitute Meaning: Too big to finish / Never done
38. Like standing still in a race
Meaning: Everyone moves except you
Give an Instance: My laptop loading was like standing still in a race. / Being the last to leave class felt the same.
Substitute Meaning: Left behind / Going nowhere
39. Like a song on repeat
Meaning: Happens again and again
Give an Instance: The school bell ringing late was like a song on repeat. / His stories about baseball felt the same.
Substitute Meaning: Loops forever / Repeats a lot
40. Like a calendar with too many days
Meaning: Feels longer than it should
Give an Instance: Summer break felt like a calendar with too many days. / Waiting for a new video game was just like that.
Substitute Meaning: Longer than expected / Time dragging
41. Like being frozen in place
Meaning: Time is stuck
Give an Instance: That fire drill was like being frozen in place. / My ride being late felt the same.
Substitute Meaning: No movement / Feels stuck
42. Like writing with no pen
Meaning: Feels slow and pointless
Give an Instance: That worksheet with no clear questions felt like writing with no pen. / Group work with no plan was like that too.
Substitute Meaning: Going nowhere / Feels useless
43. Like reading one sentence forever
Meaning: Feels like time is frozen
Give an Instance: That math word problem felt like reading one sentence forever. / The class instructions were the same.
Substitute Meaning: Stuck on one thing / Doesn’t end
44. Like dragging a wagon uphill
Meaning: Hard and takes a long time
Give an Instance: That book report felt like dragging a wagon uphill. / Helping my sister clean was like that too.
Substitute Meaning: Tough job / Slow and tiring
45. Like the bell never ringing
Meaning: Time never moves forward
Give an Instance: The last minute of class was like the bell never ringing. / Waiting to leave felt like that too.
Substitute Meaning: Felt forever / Still waiting
Find the “Similes for Long Time”
Reading Passage
Last week, our class had to sit through a surprise guest speaker presentation in the gym. We all thought it would be short, but it felt like watching paint dry. The speaker talked and talked his speech was like a never-ending story.
As I sat there, the clock seemed like a clock with no hands. Time just didn’t move. It felt like waiting for Christmas, but without the fun. I started to doodle, but even that felt like walking in wet sand slow and boring.
Next to me, Marcus whispered, “This is like waiting for cookies to bake without turning the oven on.” I nodded. The speaker’s voice was like a slow song that never ends. Even our teacher looked tired. She was sitting still like a statue, as if frozen in place.
Finally, after what felt like a parade that never ends, the speaker said, “Thank you.” We all sat up straight like someone had hit the fast-forward button. The bell rang it was like hearing the first note after a song stuck on one note.
We walked out of the gym like a balloon that had just popped.
Instructions for Students
Read the story again. Underline or list all the similes that describe something taking a long time.
Answer Key
- Like watching paint dry
- Like a never-ending story
- Like a clock with no hands
- Like waiting for Christmas
- Like walking in wet sand
- Like waiting for cookies to bake
- Like a slow song that never ends
- Like frozen in place
- Like a parade that never ends
- Like a song stuck on one note
Conclusion
Similes help us talk about time in a more interesting way. Instead of saying something was “long,” we can say it was like a never-ending story or like watching paint dry. These phrases paint a picture that’s easy to understand.
By using similes, you can show how you feel and make your writing fun. Try using them when you tell a story or write about your day. It will help others see what you mean more clearly.
