IDIOMATIC SIMILES
Credit: NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle
April 16, 2011
Will Shortz

The contrived similes below can be changed into familiar ones by substituting rhymes for the key words.  For example, given the clue DEAD as a STREET, the answer would be RED as a BEET.

1. SNAPPY as a TRAM
2. GREEN as aTHISTLE
3. QUEER as a SMELL
4. WHITE as a TETHER
5. FRAIL as a HOST
6. MUTE as a GLUTTON
7. DRY as a BOX
8. LIT as a GRIDDLE
9. MENTAL as a RAM
10. BRIGHT as a THUMB
11. LAZY as a COON
12. SWEET as a FIN

Answers:

1. Happy as a clam
2. Clean as a whistle 
3. Clear as a bell
4. Light as a feather
5. Pale as a ghost
6. Cute as a button
7. Sly as a fox
8. Fit as a fiddle
9. Gentle as a lamb
10. Tight as a drum
11. Crazy as a loon
12. Neat as a pin