Ruins stood as silent witnesses to history.

Meaning: The remains of old buildings didn't make any sounds, but they could tell us about things that happened long ago.

Choice of Words: Ruins are the remains of a building or city that has been destroyed. Stood means to be in an upright position. Silent means not making any sound. Witnesses are people who see or experience something. History is the study of past events.

Alternative Expressions

The ruins were like silent books, telling the story of the past.

Meaning: This sentence compares the ruins to silent books that tell the story of the past. The ruins are like books because they contain information about the past, and they are silent because they do not speak.

Choice of Words: Ruins are the remains of something that has been destroyed or abandoned. Were is a verb that means to exist or occur. Like is a word that compares two things. Silent means not making any sound. Books are objects that contain written or printed information. Telling is a verb that means to give information about something. Story is a description of events that have happened. Past is the time that has happened before the present.

The ruins whispered secrets of a forgotten time.

Meaning: This sentence describes the ruins as whispering secrets of a forgotten time. The ruins are whispering because they are telling a story that is not well-known, and the time is forgotten because it is no longer remembered.

Choice of Words: Ruins are the remains of something that has been destroyed or abandoned. Whispered is a verb that means to speak softly or in a low voice. Secrets are pieces of information that are not known to many people. Forgotten means no longer remembered. Time is a period of duration.

Related Expressions