Clear as red flame vs Evident
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Clear as red flame
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Evident
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
Most common: Evident
| Clear as red flame | Evident | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //klɪə əz rɛd fleɪm//🇺🇸 //klɪr æz rɛd fleɪm// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈevɪdənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈevɪdənt/"]/ |
| Meaning | very easy to understand | Easy to see or understand. |
| Example | The instructions were clear as red flame to everyone. | It was evident that she had worked hard to achieve the results. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | as clear as can be, clear as day, clear as a bell | appear, be, seem, extremely, fairly, very, from, in, to |
| Antonyms | - | hidden, obscure, unclear |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'clear as mud', which means the opposite., Omitting the word 'as' when using the phrase. | Confused with 'evidence' — remember, 'evident' describes clarity, while 'evidence' refers to proof., Using it in inappropriate contexts, such as slang or informal settings., Confusing with synonyms like 'apparent,' which may have slightly different meanings. |
| Usage notes | Use when something is very obvious or easy to see. Avoid in formal writing. | Use 'evident' to describe something that is obvious. It is more formal than 'clear' and often used in writing or speeches. Not commonly used in casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Clear as red flame vs Evident
What's the difference between Clear as red flame and Evident?
Clear as red flame: very easy to understand Evident: Easy to see or understand.
Which is more common: Clear as red flame and Evident?
Evident is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Clear as red flame: The instructions were clear as red flame to everyone. Evident: It was evident that she had worked hard to achieve the results.
Can I use Clear as red flame and Evident interchangeably?
Not always. Clear as red flame and Evident are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.