What is the meaning of the phrase ;as smooth as silk’?
Extremely smooth.
What is the origin of the phrase ‘as smooth as silk’?
The phrase ‘as smooth as silk’ is a simile, which is a type of metaphor where two things are compared with one another using either the word ‘like’ or the word ‘as’.
The phrase ‘as smooth as silk’ is thought to be as old as silk itself. The origins of silk production are ancient and shrouded in legend, but the earliest known examples of woven silk date back to around 2700 BCE in China:
More often than not, the phrase ‘as smooth as silk’ is a compliment, for example when describing someone’s skin, or describing paint on walls. That said, there may on occasion be instances where the phrase ‘as smooth as silk’ is not a compliment, for example when texture is required on an item to enable better friction, for example on the soles of shoes or on certain types of gloves.
