adjective

proverbial

pruh-VER-bee-ul/prəˈvɜːrbiəl/

Belonging to or resembling a familiar traditional saying.

The needle in the haystack is a proverbial image of a difficult search.

A compact visual anthology of three familiar sayings: the proverbial needle in a haystack, all the eggs in one basket, and spilled milk.

Etymology

proLatinforth

+verbLatinword

+ialLatinpertaining to

A proverb is literally “words put forward,” understood as a common saying. Something proverbial is mentioned in, or resembles something in, such a saying and is therefore familiar or widely recognized.

In context

This Jungian Life34:11

like slipping on a proverbial banana peel, metaphorically, and and totally doing the wrong thing, you know?

Trickster, Tempter, Teacher: The Devil in Depth Psychology

More examples

Finding that receipt is like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack.
The extra fee is the proverbial last straw.
Their crowded kitchen illustrates the proverbial warning about too many cooks.

Forms

proverbial

proverb noun — A short, familiar saying expressing practical wisdom.

proverbially adverb — In a way recalling a familiar saying.

Similar words

aphoristic: Resembles a concise statement of truth, without requiring traditional familiarity.