Memories flooded back like a river.

Meaning: This sentence describes the sudden and overwhelming return of memories from the past.

Choice of Words: Memories are thoughts or feelings about past experiences. Flooded means to fill or cover something with water. Back means to return to a previous state or place. Like is used to compare two things. A is an indefinite article that refers to one of a kind. River is a large natural stream of water. Together, these words create a metaphor comparing the rush of memories to the flow of a river.

Alternative Expressions

The memories came rushing back like a waterfall.

Meaning: This means that the person suddenly remembered a lot of things from the past, like a waterfall suddenly falling from a high place.

Choice of Words: Memories are the thoughts and feelings we have about past experiences. Came rushing means to move quickly and with force. Back means to move in the opposite direction from the one you were going in. Like is used to compare two things. A waterfall is a large, flowing body of water that falls from a high place. When you put them together, "The memories came rushing back like a waterfall" means that the memories came back to the person's mind very quickly and with great force.

A flood of memories washed over me.

Meaning: This means that the person suddenly remembered a lot of things from the past, like a flood of water suddenly covering an area.

Choice of Words: A flood is a large amount of water that covers an area. Memories are the thoughts and feelings we have about past experiences. Washed means to clean or cover something with water. Over means to move or pass across or above something. Me is the pronoun that refers to the person speaking. When you put them together, "A flood of memories washed over me" means that the memories came back to the person's mind very quickly and in a large amount.

Related Expressions