She was dancing like a peacock

[Barman]

Simple: She was dancing like a peacock.

Complex: a) She was dancing as a peacock does.

b) She was dancing as if she were a peacock.

Are both a) and b) correct?

 

[GoesStation]

Yes. A native speaker would be more likely to utter B than A, but A is definitely possible.

 

[emsr2d2]

But if we're talking about likelihood, a native speaker is far more likely to use the "simple" version. Generally, we say what we mean in the simplest way, and with the fewest words possible.

Mind you, I've never seen a peacock dance, so I don't know if I'd recognise a person dancing like one.

 

[Rover_KE]

I've only seen peacocks strutting.

 

[Tdol]

But if we're talking about likelihood, a native speaker is far more likely to use the "simple" version. Generally, we say what we mean in the simplest way, and with the fewest words possible.

Making something more complex for no reason doesn't strike me as good style.

 

[AminMoss]

Well, to me, the three sentences don't mean exactly the same thing!!

 

[Barman]

Well, to me, the three sentences don't mean exactly the same thing!

Could you explain please?

 

[PeterCW]

Grammar aside remember that a peacock is male. In colloquial English you can compare a flamboyant man with a peacock but not a female.