shades of

Idioms  

1. A reminder of a person or situation in the past. For example, He really played a fine game for a fifty-year-old—shades of his high school triumphs, or They found themselves alone on the beach—shades of their childhood summers together. [Mid-1800s]

---

Example Sentences

Jackets also had their place on the runway in shades of black, gold, and silver.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

An uplifting hymn to the great outdoors, it has shades of Griff and Sigrid in its eco-friendly pop.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

There were shades of difference among the commentators, but they mostly batted for the same team.

From Slate • May 6, 2026

Hansen was drawn to the beautiful shades of blues, greens and browns that the surface reveals if you’re patient enough.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

And because Ms. Dale has also known Axel through her five shades of hair color and four years of school, she adds, “It’s important. I want to go over a weather-related drill with you.”

From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers