View synonyms for proverbial

proverbial

[ pruh-vur-bee-uhl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of a proverb:
proverbial brevity.
expressed in a proverb or proverbs:
proverbial wisdom.
of the nature of or resembling a proverb:
proverbial sayings.
having been made the subject of a proverb:
the proverbial barn door which is closed too late.
having become an object of common mention or reference:
your proverbial inability to get anywhere on time.

proverbial

/ prəˈvɜːbɪəl /

prenominal commonly or traditionally referred to, esp as being an example of some peculiarity, characteristic, etc
of, connected with, embodied in, or resembling a proverb

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First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Latin word prōverbiālis. See proverb, -al ¹

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“They left me holding the 5-pound bag with the proverbial 10 pounds in it,” he says.

As they once again invade the safety of the prison that the group calls home, Rick is forced to take up the proverbial sword.

However, these “potty-mouthed princesses” curse like proverbial sailors to prove a point.

Well, we left off with Bishop on the soccer field, and Kalinda had her proverbial back against the wall.

But because it had not erupted in recorded history, it missed the proverbial geological radar screen.

The designs of Russia have long been proverbial; but the exercise of the new art of printing may assign them new features.

Of course not,” said Wilkins, “proverbial philosophy asserts and requires that doctors should disagree.

But that uncertainty which is proverbial in human affairs stepped within the circle of his life and overturned his plans.

The present owner, whose hospitality is proverbial in the neighbourhood, has religiously preserved the room intact.

Long before Rodenbach's romance was written this peculiarity of Bruges was proverbial throughout Belgium.

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