saying
nounUK, US /ˈseɪ.ɪŋ/
Etymology From say + -ing.
1
A proverb or maxim.
- There is a Chinese saying: "One who does not know how to smile has no business to be in business." How much truer is this of people engaged in the business of diplomacy!1983, James C. H. Shen, “Rejoining the Government”, in Robert Myers, editor, The U.S. & Free China: How the U.S. Sold Out Its Ally, Washington, D.C.: Acropolis Books Ltd., →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 30:
- Garrus: Fist knows you're coming. We'll have a better chance if we all work together. Wrex: My people have a saying: Seek the enemy of your enemy, and you will find a friend.2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Citadel:
2
Obsolete That which is said; an utterance.
- And I'll be sworn you would believe my saying, Howe'er you lean to th' nayward.c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
- Synonyms
- maxim, proverb, saw, expression, byword, saying, adage, apothegm, apophthegm, dictum, gnome, gnomic saying, mantra, paroemia
- Derived terms
- doomsaying, soothsaying
- Related terms
47 terms
axiom, banality, bon mot, bumper sticker, buzzword, catchphrase, chestnut, cliché, collocation, colloquialism, dogma, epithet, expression, figure of speech, formula, gossip, guideline, idiom, jingle, moral, mot, motto, myth, old chestnut, parable, phrase, pleasantry, precept, principle, quip, quotation, quote, refrain, remark, rule, rule of thumb, sentence, sermon, set phrase, shibboleth, slogan, tenet, theorem, truism, truth, watchword, witticism