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shades of

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shades of someone or something

Fig. reminders of someone or something; a thing that is reminiscent of someone or something. When I met Jim's mother, I thought "shades of Aunt Mary." "Shades of grade school," said Jack as the university lecturer rebuked him for being late.

See also: of, shade

shades of somebody/something

this suggests memories of another person or thing The president's behavior suggests he has something to hide - shades of the Watergate scandal.

Etymology: based on the meaning of shade (spirit of a dead person) used esp. in literature

See also: of, shade

Shades of somebody/something.

something that you say when someone or something makes you think of another person or thing We visited the university campus and had a few drinks in the bar. Shades of my student days.

See also: of, Shade

shades of

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]

See also: of, shade