proverbial
English edit
Etymology edit
- From Latin prōverbiālis; proverb + -ial
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
proverbial (comparative more proverbial, superlative most proverbial)
- Of, resembling, or expressed as a proverb, cliché, fable, or fairy tale.
- 1947, Miracle on 34th Street (transcript):
- Doris: You're making me feel like the proverbial stepmother.
- 1947, Miracle on 34th Street (transcript):
- Not used in a literal sense, but as the subject of a well-known metaphor.
- the proverbial smoking gun
- proverbial spilled milk
- The visit was a warning shot across our proverbial bows
- 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.
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
of a proverb
|
widely known; famous
|
Noun edit
proverbial (plural proverbials)
- (euphemistic) 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.
- Are you taking the proverbial?
- (euphemistic, in the plural) The groin or the testicles.
- You'll find they've got you by the proverbials.
Translations edit
groin
|
Catalan edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from Latin prōverbiālis.
Pronunciation edit
- IPA(key): (Central) [pɾu.βər.biˈal]
- IPA(key): (Balearic) [pɾo.vər.biˈal]
- IPA(key): (Valencian) [pɾo.veɾ.biˈal]
Noun edit
proverbial m or f (masculine and feminine plural proverbials)
Related terms edit
Further reading edit
- “proverbial” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
French edit
Pronunciation edit
Audio (file)
Adjective edit
proverbial (feminine proverbiale, masculine plural proverbiaux, feminine plural proverbiales)
Further reading edit
- “proverbial”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Romanian edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from French proverbial.
Adjective edit
proverbial m or n (feminine singular proverbială, masculine plural proverbiali, feminine and neuter plural proverbiale)
Declension edit
Declension of proverbial
singular | plural | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
masculine | neuter | feminine | masculine | neuter | feminine | ||
nominative/ accusative |
indefinite | proverbial | proverbială | proverbiali | proverbiale | ||
definite | proverbialul | proverbiala | proverbialii | proverbialele | |||
genitive/ dative |
indefinite | proverbial | proverbiale | proverbiali | proverbiale | ||
definite | proverbialului | proverbialei | proverbialilor | proverbialelor |
Spanish edit
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
proverbial m or f (masculine and feminine plural proverbiales)
Derived terms edit
Further reading edit
- “proverbial”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014