Like is used to describe an affection for someone or something
We like speaking English.
Everybody like a pretty person.
Like is also used to ask for description of someone or something
What is the United Kingdom Like?
Maybe you want to know about the culture
Maybe you want to know how it looks.
Maybe you want to know about how people behave.
What is your new car like?
Maybe you want to know about the quality.
Maybe you want to know what type of car.
Maybe you want to know about the power, fuel consumption
What is the weather like?
How is the weather performing?
What is the temperature?
I need to know what is happening with the weather so I can decide what to wear?
What are you like?
Informal –
What did you do?
Why did you do that?
You surprise me!
Sorry, I messed up by overcooking the porridge and burnt the saucepan.
What are you like?
Formal/informal –
You would ask this is for example you wanted to know things like:
What is your appearance?
How would you describe your personality?
How do you behave?
expressions
like for like
If something is ‘like for like’ it is the same as something else
My kettle broke but it will not be difficult to find another, I will just get one like for like. (the same)
of the like
Today’s problem is ‘of the like’ never seen before. (like this ‘description’)
‘Of the like’ we will never seen again. (description)
like a ‘sitting duck’
To be vulnerable
When I went into the blue end of the stadium wearing a red hat and scarf, I was like a sitting duck
like an open book
If someone is an open book, you know what they think; they are honest.
You can trust her, she is like an ‘open book’; what you see is what you get.
to describe how something appears we can use ‘like’