The bird spread its wings and took flight.

Meaning: The bird opened its wings and started flying.

Choice of Words: Spread means to open or extend something. Wings are the parts of a bird's body that allow it to fly. Took flight means to start flying.

Alternative Expressions

The bird stretched out its feathers and soared through the air.

Meaning: This sentence also describes a bird flying. It's like saying, The bird got ready to fly by opening its wings and started flying high in the sky.

Choice of Words: Stretched means to make something longer or wider. Feathers are the small, soft things that cover a bird's body. Soared means to fly high in the sky. Air is the invisible stuff that we breathe. When you put them together, "The bird stretched out its feathers and soared through the air" means the bird opened its wings and flew high in the sky.

The bird flapped its wings and lifted off the ground.

Meaning: This sentence describes a bird taking off. It's like saying, The bird got ready to fly by moving its wings up and down quickly and started to fly.

Choice of Words: Flapped means to move something up and down quickly. Wings are the large feathers that birds use to fly. Lifted means to move something up. Ground is the surface of the earth. When you put them together, "The bird flapped its wings and lifted off the ground" means the bird moved its wings up and down quickly and started to fly.

Related Expressions