🏠 As Big As a House: Enlarging the Notion ◀️

An exploration into the origins and usage of the humongous metaphor, 'as big as a house,' uncovering its longstanding and sometimes unflattering application.

🏠 As Big As a House: Enlarging the Notion ▶️

“Physically large, overweight, said of a person in an unflattering way, as in, ‘I saw Marion the other day and she’s gotten as big as a house.’”

Why a house should have been chosen as a simile for a large person is a real head-scratcher. But alas, here we are, utilizing architectural comparisons to describe human scale. While it’s certainly a grandiose comparison, it has been, for better or worse, employed for generations.

Elephantine: Refers to something huge or massive in size.
As big as a barn: A similar metaphor often used interchangeably.
Corpulent: A more sophisticated term for being overweight.
Rotund: Round in shape, typically referring to body form.

🦒 Humorous Quote: “I’m not overweight. I’m just nine inches too short.” - Shelley Winters

Proverbs & Expressions

Great minds think alike, but fools rarely differ: Sometimes, many people think something is true or witty simply because it’s a common cliche, much like comparing someone to a house.
Comparisons are odious: This proverb warns against making comparisons because it can often lead to hurt feelings, much like telling someone they resemble a building.

Synonyms

Gigantic
Colossal
Immense
Mammoth

Antonyms

Tiny
Miniature
Microscopic
Compact

Suggested Literature & Media

Books: “Moby-Dick” by Herman Melville, for Ahab’s famously enormous white whale.
Movies: “Shallow Hal”, where perceptions of size play a central theme.
Songs: “Big Girls Don’t Cry” by Fergie, offering a different take on the largeness theme.
Poetry: “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll, for its playful and creative use of language.
Literature: “Gulliver’s Travels” by Jonathan Swift, encounters different sized beings.

🍏 Apples and Oranges: And Other Analogous Oddities 🍊

Comparisons can often give rise to quirky and humorous connotations. Here are some to tickle your funny bone and make you ponder.

### Which of these phrases is actually a recognized idiom? - [x] As big as a house - [ ] As bright as a river - [ ] As loud as a triangle - [ ] As green as fire > **Explanation:** "As big as a house" is a real idiom used to describe something or someone very large. The others? Total nonsense. ### Choose the correct simile: - [ ] As fast as a snail in reverse - [x] As big as a barn - [ ] As silent as a jazz hand - [ ] As deep as a coffee cup > **Explanation:** "As big as a barn" is another idiom referring to something enormous. While luscious, snails and coffee cups aren't quite colossal-scale residents in idioms. ### True or False: 'As big as a barn' is synonymous with 'As big as a house' - [x] True - [ ] False > **Explanation:** Absolutely true. Both involve imagery of enormousness using recognizable structures. ### Identify the synonym for 'gigantic': - [x] Mammoth - [ ] Pint-sized - [ ] Minuscule - [ ] Weak > **Explanation:** Mammoth is a synonym for gigantic, reflecting colossal size. Pint-sized and minuscule fall far short.

As we voyage through the acres of figurative language, it becomes evident that sometimes, things become “as clear as mud.” Nevertheless, it is these peculiar and humorous expressions that enrich our communication.

Author’s Note: B.L. Giraffalo bids you a whimsical farewell with these words of wisdom: “May your creativity be as boundless as the oceans and may you always find humor in the mundane. For it is through laughter that the mundane becomes magnificent.”

Published: 2023-10-28