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proverbial

Pronunciation: /prəˈvəːbɪəl/

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Definition of proverbial

adjective

  • (of a word or phrase) referred to in a proverb or idiom:I’m going to stick out like the proverbial sore thumb
  • well known, especially so as to be stereotypical:the Welsh people, whose hospitality is proverbial

noun

  • used to stand for a word or phrase that is normally part of a proverb or idiom but is not actually uttered:one word out of line, and the proverbial hits the fan

Derivatives

proverbiality

Pronunciation: /-bɪˈalɪti/

noun

proverbially

adverb

Origin:

late Middle English: from Latin proverbialis, from proverbium (see proverb)

proverbial in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of proverbial in the US English dictionary

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