Meaning: The flames from the fire were changing in brightness and jumping around.
Choice of Words: Flames are the burning part of a fire. "Flickered" means to shine unsteadily or to change in brightness. "Leaped" means to jump or move quickly.
Alternative Expressions
The flames danced and cavorted.
Meaning: This means the fire was burning with flames that were moving around in a graceful and lively way, like they were dancing.
Choice of Words:Danced means to move gracefully and rhythmically. Cavorted means to behave in a playful and lively way. When you put these two words together, it creates a playful image of flames that are moving around like they're dancing and having fun.
The flames twisted and turned.
Meaning: This means the fire was burning with flames that were bending and moving in different directions, like they were twisting and turning.
Choice of Words:Twisted means to bend or turn something out of its normal shape. Turned means to move or rotate something in a circular direction. When you put these two words together, it creates an image of flames that are bending and moving in different directions.