Sparks flew as steel met scales.

Meaning: When the knight's sword hit the dragon's scales, it created small, hot pieces of metal that flew through the air.

Choice of Words: Sparks are small, hot particles of metal or other material that are thrown off when two things hit each other. Flew means to move quickly through the air. Steel is a strong, hard metal made from iron and carbon. Met means to come into contact with something. Scales are the hard, protective plates that cover the body of a reptile or fish.

Alternative Expressions

The blacksmith struck the anvil with his hammer, sending sparks flying.

Meaning: This sentence describes a situation where a blacksmith is using a hammer to shape metal on an anvil. The hammer hitting the anvil creates sparks.

Choice of Words: Blacksmith is a person who works with metal. Anvil is a heavy block of metal that blacksmiths use to shape other pieces of metal. Hammer is a tool that is used to hit and shape metal. When you put these words together, it means that the blacksmith hit the anvil with his hammer, which caused sparks to fly into the air.

The welder's torch spat sparks as he welded the two pieces of metal together.

Meaning: This sentence describes a situation where a welder is using a welding torch to join two pieces of metal together. The welding torch creates sparks as it melts the metal.

Choice of Words: Welder is a person who joins pieces of metal together using a welding torch. Welding torch is a tool that uses a flame to melt metal so that it can be joined together. Spat means to send out small drops of liquid or sparks. When you put these words together, it means that the welder's torch sent out sparks as he was joining the two pieces of metal together.

Related Expressions