Colorful scales shimmer.

Meaning: This means that the scales on an animal's body are colorful and are producing a soft, slightly wavering light.

Choice of Words: Colorful is an adjective that describes something that has many different colors. Scales are thin plates that cover the bodies of some animals, like fish or snakes. Shimmer is a verb that means to have a soft, slightly wavering light.

Alternative Expressions

The fish's scales shimmered in the sunlight.

Meaning: This means that the scales on the fish are bright and shiny because of the sunlight. It's like saying, The fish's scales were sparkling in the sun.

Choice of Words: Fish is a noun that refers to a cold-blooded vertebrate animal that lives in water and has gills for breathing. Scales are the hard, overlapping plates that cover the body of a fish. Shimmer means to shine with a soft, gentle light. Sunlight is the light from the sun. When you put them together, "The fish's scales shimmered in the sunlight" describes a fish with shiny scales that are reflecting the light from the sun.

The dragon's scales glistened in the moonlight.

Meaning: This means that the scales on the dragon are bright and shiny because of the moonlight. It's like saying, The dragon's scales were sparkling in the moonlight.

Choice of Words: Dragon is a mythical creature that is often depicted as a large, winged reptile. Scales are the hard, overlapping plates that cover the body of a reptile. Glistened means to shine with a bright, sparkling light. Moonlight is the light from the moon. When you put them together, "The dragon's scales glistened in the moonlight" describes a dragon with shiny scales that are reflecting the light from the moon.

Related Expressions