proverbial

 
Pronunciation: /prəˈvəːbɪəl/

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)