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Shades of Meaning in English

expression · lemma: shade of

ˈʃeɪdz/ /ˈəv
SHAYDZ-uhv
ʃˈeɪdz/ /ˈɒv
SHAYDZ-ov

Definition

'Shades of' is used to talk about different slight variations of a color, or more commonly, to show similarity or remind someone of something else, as in 'shades of the past.'

Usage & Nuances

Often used figuratively: 'shades of' can mean 'reminds you of' or 'suggests a similarity,' not just literal color. Common in media, writing, and conversation. Example: 'Shades of 1984' means something reminds you of George Orwell's novel. Used with both abstract and physical things.

Example Sentences

The carpet is made of many shades of green.

basic

Her new song gave me shades of 90s pop music.

natural

Watching that movie, I felt shades of classic horror.

natural

His speech had shades of last year's controversy.

natural

I like the different shades of blue in this painting.

basic

There are many shades of gray in the sky today.

basic