adj
proverbial
pruh-VURRB-ee-uhl
adj
1
Referred to in, or resembling, a well-known proverb or saying.
"He was the proverbial fish out of water at the gala."
"She hit the proverbial nail on the head."
2
Widely known; commonly recognized as typical of something.
"His generosity is proverbial among his colleagues."
How to Use Proverbial
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribing something so well known it's become a stock phrase or stands for a whole idea, as in "the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back."
Common pairings
the proverbial
proverbial wisdom
Word Forms
more proverbial comparative, proverbials plural, most proverbial superlative
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Etymology
From Latin prōverbiālis, built from proverb plus the adjective suffix -ial.