Proverbial (adjective)
Of, resembling, or expressed as a proverb, cliché, fable, or fairy tale.
Proverbial (adjective)
Not used in a literal sense, but as the subject of a well-known metaphor.
“the proverbial smoking gun”
“proverbial spilled milk”
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.”
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?”
Proverbial (noun)
The groin or the testicles.
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”.
Figurative (adjective)
Metaphorically so called.
Figurative (adjective)
With many figures of speech.
Figurative (adjective)
Emblematic; representative
Figurative (adjective)
representing forms recognisable in life and clearly derived from real object sources, in contrast to abstract art.
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”
Proverbial (adjective)
well known, especially so as to be stereotypical
“the Welsh people, whose hospitality is proverbial”
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”
Figurative (adjective)
departing from a literal use of words; metaphorical
“a figurative expression”
Figurative (adjective)
(of an artist or work of art) representing forms that are recognizably derived from life.