What does proverbial mean?
Definitions for proverbial
prəˈvɜr bi əlprover·bial
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word proverbial.
Princeton's WordNet
proverbialadjective
of or relating to or resembling or expressed in a proverb
"he kicked the proverbial bucket"; "the proverbial grasshopper"
proverbialadjective
widely known and spoken of
"her proverbial lateness"; "the proverbial absentminded professor"; "your proverbial dizzy blonde"
Wiktionary
proverbialnoun
Used to replace a word that might be considered unacceptable in a particular situation, when using a well known phrase.
I think we should be prepared in case the proverbial hits the fan.
proverbialnoun
The groin or the testicles.
proverbialadjective
Of, resembling, or expressed as a proverb, cliché, fable, or fairy tale.
proverbialadjective
Widely known; famous; stereotypical.
I grew up in a prefab house on Main Street in 1950s suburbia, the second and last child of a proverbial nuclear family.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
Proverbialadjective
Etymology: proverbial, Fr. from proverb.
In case of excesses, I take the German proverbial cure, by a hair of the same beast, to be the worst in the world; and the best, the monks diet, to eat till you are sick, and fast till you are well again. William Temple, Miscel.
Despis’d and curs’d Leontius must descend
Through hissing ages, a proverbial coward. Irene.This river’s head being unknown, and drawn to a proverbial obscurity, the opinion thereof became without bounds. Thomas Browne, Vulgar Errours.
Moral sentences and proverbial speeches are numerous in this poet. Alexander Pope.
Wikipedia
proverbial
A proverb (from Latin: proverbium) is a simple and insightful, traditional saying that expresses a perceived truth based on common sense or experience. Proverbs are often metaphorical and use formulaic language. A proverbial phrase or a proverbial expression is a type of a conventional saying similar to proverbs and transmitted by oral tradition. The difference is that a proverb is a fixed expression, while a proverbial phrase permits alterations to fit the grammar of the context. Collectively, they form a genre of folklore. Some proverbs exist in more than one language because people borrow them from languages and cultures with which they are in contact. In the West, the Bible (including, but not limited to the Book of Proverbs) and medieval Latin (aided by the work of Erasmus) have played a considerable role in distributing proverbs. Not all Biblical proverbs, however, were distributed to the same extent: one scholar has gathered evidence to show that cultures in which the Bible is the major spiritual book contain "between three hundred and five hundred proverbs that stem from the Bible," whereas another shows that, of the 106 most common and widespread proverbs across Europe, 11 are from the Bible. However, almost every culture has its own unique proverbs.
ChatGPT
proverbial
Proverbial refers to something that is well-known, widely recognized, or commonly referred to because it is often used as an example in proverbs or idiomatic expressions. It can also mean typical or characteristic of a specific thing or person. Essentially, it describes something that is so familiar it has become a reference point or cliché.
Webster Dictionary
Proverbialadjective
mentioned or comprised in a proverb; used as a proverb; hence, commonly known; as, a proverbial expression; his meanness was proverbial
Proverbialadjective
of or pertaining to proverbs; resembling a proverb
Etymology: [L. proverbialis: cf. F. proverbial.]
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of proverbial in Chaldean Numerology is: 1
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of proverbial in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1
Examples of proverbial in a Sentence
So (a) green light from Trump to Turkey to go ahead and get S400s - or that is now the Turkish view, i would imagine U.S. diplomat and defense department officials are in disbelief - Trump is like the proverbial bull in the China shop.
Prince Harry tells Oprah that every time Prince Harry'd be on a flight returning to London, Prince Harry was triggered because of what had happened to Prince Harry growing up there, i found Harry's revelation about being triggered every time Prince Harry was about to touch down in London again so striking. Of course, Prince Harry was born into a family where … as the proverbial ‘ spare ’ one would think that he would have more freedom to be the architect of his destiny than William, whose destiny was set from the day he was born.
When you look at the courts order, they were hoping that Texas would give them a way out by accommodating Patrick Murphys request, texas has chosen not to do that, so its likely that the ball with be back in the proverbial judicial court.
The anxiety over the Fed meeting has abated for now, with the Fed using that word 'patient', you had the beginning of the proverbial Santa Claus rally.
Putin's decision to limit access to Facebook is a terrible omen for Russian freedom, it is the proverbial camel's nose under the tent.Expect much worse denial of freedom to follow.This is especially true as evidenced by the Kremlin's recent decision to clamp down on anti-war protesters.
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Translations for proverbial
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"proverbial." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Jul 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/proverbial>.
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