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to act like a mirror

to act like a mirror

3.5
Send back light and show a clear image of things nearby
  • idiom
translation icon : actuar como un espejo

And also it was thought to kind of act like a mirror to help people see themselves more clearly in it, see the way they think.

Examples

  • And also it was thought to kind of act like a mirror to help people see themselves more clearly in it, see the way they think.

  • So the idea is that the water acts like a mirror and reflects and it's going to look so beautiful against your trees in the backdrop and show the ripple of the water.

  • The calm lake acts like a mirror, perfectly reflecting the surrounding mountains.

  • A well-designed glass door can act like a mirror, allowing you to see your reflection as you walk by.

  • When the sun shines, the surface of the water acts like a mirror, capturing the blue sky above.

Synonyms

to reflect
vsto act like a mirror
149 2.6

To send back light or an image from a surface like a mirror

specifies perfect image and light return rather than any returned energy
to mirror
vsto act like a mirror
65 2.1

To show the same thing or feeling as something else

focuses on perfectly exact image return rather than general showing
mirrored
vsto act like a mirror
4.3

Having the same look as in a mirror

describes perfect physical image return rather than only similar appearance

Antonyms

Give a false story about someone or something to trick people

59 4.3

To change the shape of something so it is no longer normal

How Reflective

to act like a mirror
3.5
to reflect
149 2.6

Surface Forms

act like a mirror infinitive
acted like a mirror past participle
acting like a mirror present participle
acts like a mirror third person singular

Morphology

act + like + a + mirror

The meaning is directly compositional: 'act' (serve as), 'like' (similar to) and 'mirror' (something that reflects) combine to state that something reflects as a mirror does. This is a straightforward simile following common English patterns (and parallels in many languages), so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will readily infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Act like a mirror paints a simple picture: something behaves like a mirror and gives back the light or image it receives. So, when we say something acts like a mirror we mean it 'reflects' or 'shows' an image clearly.