proverbial Hear it!

proverbial Definition

pro·ver·bial (prə vʉr′bē əl)

adjective

  1. of, or having the nature of, a proverb
  2. expressed in a proverb
  3. well-known because commonly referred to the proverbial glamour of Paris

Etymology: ME < LL proverbialis

proverbial Related Forms
pro·ver′·bi·ally adverb
proverbial Synonyms

proverbial

modif.

commonplace, axiomatic, current, general, unquestioned; see also common 1, dull 4, familiar 1.

proverbial Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • almost: Nor do I want to pretend to explain fully what Jesus left hanging in the air as a provocative, almost proverbial saying.
  • now: Major events like hurricanes might be determined by tiny causes in the past such as the now proverbial flap of a butterfly's wing.

Preposition: without

  • paddle: Or should that be - up the proverbial without a paddle!

Modifies a noun

  • saying: In future lets remember that old proverbial saying " What's good for the goose is good for the gander " .
  • iceberg: Well, like the proverbial iceberg, what you see on the surface is only a fraction of what exists.
  • straw: The proverbial last straw is Brother Will's plan to make Crystal his fifth wife.
  • creek: Without manufacturing, our economy will be up the proverbial creek.
  • parrot: Having seen the less than satisfactory second half of the game, they must be as sick as the proverbial parrot.
  • pinch: Others best taken with the proverbial pinch of salt.

Used with adjective complement

  • become: The outburst of national grief on account of his death became proverbial ( Zech.