Symbols hold meaning.

Meaning: This means that symbols can represent or convey specific ideas or concepts. It's like saying, A heart symbol typically represents love or affection, while a skull and crossbones may represent danger or poison.

Choice of Words: Symbols are things that represent or stand for something else. Hold is a verb meaning to contain or possess something. Meaning is the interpretation or significance of something. The sentence implies that symbols have inherent or assigned meanings.

Alternative Expressions

Pictures speak louder than words.

Meaning: This means that sometimes it's easier to understand something by looking at a picture than by reading or hearing about it. For example, it's easier to understand how to build a birdhouse by looking at a picture of one than by reading instructions.

Choice of Words: Pictures are images or drawings that show something. Speak means to communicate or express something. Louder means more clearly or strongly. Words are spoken or written sounds that mean something. When you put them together, "Pictures speak louder than words" means that pictures can communicate something more clearly or strongly than words can.

Actions speak louder than words.

Meaning: This means that people can tell more about you by watching what you do than by listening to what you say. For example, if you say you're sorry, but you don't change your behavior, people won't believe you're really sorry.

Choice of Words: Actions are things that you do. Speak means to communicate or express something. Louder means more clearly or strongly. Words are spoken or written sounds that mean something. When you put them together, "Actions speak louder than words" means that what you do is more important than what you say.

Related Expressions