English vocabulary · C1
Proverbial
/prəˈvɜːrbiəl/ · adj.
Proverbial describes something so well known it feels like a classic saying. You have heard the same idea repeated many times.
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Example sentences
- The trail became the proverbial mud pit.
- Papers made his desk the proverbial mess.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- pro — forward (from Latin)
- verb — word (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- CLASSIC — a well-known standard example (The Standard, Trusted Example)
- TYPICAL — showing the usual pattern (Exactly What You Would Expect)
- FAMILIAR — well known from before (Known From Many Times Before)
Words with the same root
verb — word
- verb — a word that shows an action
- adverb — a word that describes a verb
- verbose — using too many words
Lesson notes
Proverbial describes something so well known it feels like a classic saying. You have heard the same idea repeated many times.
Related: classic, typical, familiar. Use proverbial when an example feels well known.
The trail became the proverbial mud pit. Papers made his desk the proverbial mess.
From Latin. Pro- means forward. Verb- means word. Words put forward again and again until everyone knows them, that is proverbial.