Word
proverbial
Phoneticsprover·bial
US/pɹəˈvɝbiəɫ/
UK/pɹəvˈɜːbɪəl/
Definition
adj. describes something that is very famous or well-known because people often talk about it or mention it in old sayings. You use it to refer to a common idea that everyone already understands.
adj. relating to or resembling a proverb; widely referred to or well-known. Often used to introduce a cliché or a common cultural reference.
Examples
“He is the proverbial early bird who always arrives first.”
“The team's failure was the proverbial final straw that led to the manager being fired.”
“By the time the rescue party arrived, the proverbial needle in a haystack had been found by a local farmer who knew the terrain intimately.”
Examples
simple
“He is the proverbial early bird who always arrives first.”
contextual
“The team's failure was the proverbial final straw that led to the manager being fired.”
complex
“By the time the rescue party arrived, the proverbial needle in a haystack had been found by a local farmer who knew the terrain intimately.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun to signal that the speaker is using a common metaphor or idiom.
Real-World Examples
“Is this couple the proverbial bad penny the country can’t shake off?” “You can hear a proverbial pin drop when Bridgers opens the show by belting her breakout song Motion Sickness solo with her guitar, her voice somersaulting around the domed ceiling.” Etymology
From Latin prōverbiālis, equivalent to proverb + -ial
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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