Anxiety gnawed at mind like a rat.

Meaning: Someone felt a feeling of worry or nervousness and it caused their mind to feel as if it was being persistently bitten or chewed by a small rodent with a long tail.

Choice of Words: Anxiety is a noun that refers to a feeling of worry or nervousness. Gnawed is a verb that means to bite or chew something persistently. At is a preposition that indicates a location or position. Mind is a noun that refers to the part of a person that thinks, feels, and remembers. Like is a preposition that indicates similarity. Rat is a noun that refers to a small rodent with a long tail.

Alternative Expressions

The monster lurked in the shadows, its eyes glowing red.

Meaning: This sentence means that there was a monster hiding in the shadows, waiting to attack. Its eyes were glowing red, which made it even more frightening.

Choice of Words: Monster is a creature that is often large, scary, and dangerous. Lurked means to wait or hide in a place in order to attack or do something harmful. Shadows are areas of darkness or shade. Eyes glowing red is a description of the monster's eyes, which are shining with a red light. This creates a sense of danger and fear.

The wind howled like a banshee, shaking the trees.

Meaning: This sentence means that the wind was blowing very strongly, making a loud, wailing sound like a banshee. The wind was so strong that it was shaking the trees.

Choice of Words: Wind is the movement of air. Howled means to make a loud, long sound like a wolf. Banshee is a female spirit in Irish folklore that is said to cry or wail when someone is about to die. Shaking the trees describes the effect of the wind on the trees, which are being moved back and forth by the strong gusts.

Related Expressions