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View synonyms for proverbial

proverbial

[ pruh-vur-bee-uhl ]

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a proverb:

    proverbial brevity.

  2. expressed in a proverb or proverbs:

    proverbial wisdom.

  3. of the nature of or resembling a proverb:

    proverbial sayings.

  4. having been made the subject of a proverb:

    the proverbial barn door which is closed too late.

  5. having become an object of common mention or reference:

    your proverbial inability to get anywhere on time.



proverbial

/ prəˈvɜːbɪəl /

adjective

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


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Derived Forms

  • proˈverbially, adverb

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Other Words From

  • pro·verbi·al·ly adverb
  • unpro·verbi·al adjective
  • unpro·verbi·al·ly adverb

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Word History and Origins

Origin of proverbial1

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

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Example Sentences

Over shorter distances, a wheelchair is held back by just how slow it is to get out of the proverbial gate.

In their return to work plans, many companies are trying to “replace this thing that was lost” — such as talks around the proverbial watercooler that could lead to good ideas.

From Digiday

Like the proverbial whack-a-mole, the Olympic sex test keeps coming back—with disastrous effects for women athletes across the globe—no matter how many times athletes and human rights’ advocates think they have abolished it.

From Quartz

The proverbial fork in the road is between functionality for online businesses versus experience for website visitors.

On Thursday afternoon, as we sat down to record this podcast, a proverbial grenade was lobbed into our virtual podcast studio in the form of this letter.

“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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proverbProverbs