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Proverbial (adjective)
Of, resembling, or expressed as a proverb, cliché, fable, or fairy tale.
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Proverbial (adjective)
Not used in a literal sense, but as the subject of a well-known metaphor.
“the proverbial smoking gun”
“proverbial spilled milk”
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Proverbial (adjective)
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.”
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Proverbial (noun)
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?”
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Proverbial (noun)
The groin or the testicles.
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Figurative (adjective)
Metaphorical or tropical, as opposed to literal; using figures; as of the use of “cats and dogs” in the phrase “It’s raining cats and dogs”.
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Figurative (adjective)
Metaphorically so called.
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Figurative (adjective)
With many figures of speech.
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Figurative (adjective)
Emblematic; representative
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Figurative (adjective)
representing forms recognisable in life and clearly derived from real object sources, in contrast to abstract art.
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Proverbial (adjective)
(of a word or phrase) referred to in a proverb or idiom
“I’m going to stick out like the proverbial sore thumb”
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Proverbial (adjective)
well known, especially so as to be stereotypical
“the Welsh people, whose hospitality is proverbial”
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Proverbial (noun)
used to stand for a word or phrase that is normally part of a proverb or idiom but is not actually uttered
“one word out of line, and the proverbial hits the fan”
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Figurative (adjective)
departing from a literal use of words; metaphorical
“a figurative expression”
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Figurative (adjective)
(of an artist or work of art) representing forms that are recognizably derived from life.