They are the verbal equivalent of shooting a sitting bird.

He just charged ahead at the verbal equivalent of light speed.

His clear prose is the verbal equivalent of the vernacular buildings he writes about.

It was the verbal equivalent of a slammed bat and a thrown helmet.

That is the verbal equivalent of a handshake: it moves business along.

It's the verbal equivalent of a box, a stick, and a piece of cheese.

It was the verbal equivalent of tossing down the gauntlet.

It occurred to her that the remark had been the verbal equivalent of a pat on the head.

Among the comforts, we can guess, is the ability to see things clearly and to find verbal equivalents for them.

Roger gave a brief snort, the verbal equivalent of a shrug.