proverb
gb/pɹˈɑvɚb/ us/pɹˈɑvɚb/
B2
English
~ 7800
közmondás, iskolapélda, megtestesítő
NOUN
B2
1
közmondás
B1
Usage pattern:
a proverb about [topic]
The old proverb "Honesty is the best policy" still guides many people's decisions.
A régi közmondás, „A becsület a legjobb politika”, még ma is sok ember döntéseit irányítja.
According to an African proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child."
Egy afrikai közmondás szerint: „Egy egész falu kell egy gyerek felneveléséhez.”
Her grandmother loved to quote the proverb "Where there’s a will, there’s a way."
The teacher used a Chinese proverb to start the discussion about hard work.
As the proverb goes, "Better late than never."
Learner examples
My teacher wrote a proverb on the board.
A tanárom egy közmondást írt a táblára.
We learned a new English proverb in class today.
Ma egy új angol közmondást tanultunk az órán.
There is a famous proverb about time and money.
He started his speech with a short proverb.
This proverb says that hard work is important.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "proverb" with "idiom." A proverb is a full sentence that gives general truth or advice (e.g., "Practice makes perfect"), while an idiom is a fixed expression whose meaning is not clear from the words (e.g., "spill the beans"). Learners also sometimes use *a* with a specific named proverb and repeat the word, saying "the proverb 'a honesty is the best policy'"; the correct form is simply: the proverb "Honesty is the best policy."
Meaning
short traditional wise saying
Collocations
old proverb
|famous proverb
|ancient proverb
|African proverb
|Chinese proverb
|as the proverb goes
Synonyms
saying (Very general; can be any commonly repeated phrase, not only wise or traditional ones.)
|
adage (Often sounds slightly more formal or literary and suggests something very old and widely accepted.)
|
maxim (More formal; often used for a short rule of behavior or moral principle.)
Antonyms
nonsense (Suggests words that have no clear meaning or truth, the opposite of a proverb’s accepted wisdom.)
Themes
language
|culture
|wisdom
|education
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A short, famous sentence that gives general advice or says something people believe is usually true.
A short, well-known saying that expresses a general truth, practical wisdom, or advice, often repeated and passed down in a culture.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
2
iskolapélda
C1
megtestesítő
C1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] becomes a proverb for [quality]
After the scandal, his name became a proverb for political corruption in the country.
A botrány után a neve az országban a politikai korrupció iskolapéldájává vált.
In the village, her generosity was almost a proverb for kindness and hospitality.
A faluban a nagylelkűsége szinte a kedvesség és a vendégszeretet iskolapéldája volt.
For years, the company's strict discipline was a proverb for efficiency among business leaders.
Learner examples
After the war, his bravery became a proverb for courage in his town.
A háború után a bátorsága a városában a bátorság iskolapéldájává vált.
In the story, the king’s cruelty is a proverb for bad leadership.
A történetben a király kegyetlensége a rossz vezetés iskolapéldája.
The city’s traffic jams are a proverb for bad planning.
Common mistake:
This sense is rare and literary. Learners may think it has the same meaning as the common sense of "proverb" (a short saying). In this use, it usually appears in formal or literary writing, often in the pattern "a proverb for [quality]" or "became a proverb."
Meaning
person/thing as well-known example
Collocations
a proverb for patience
|a proverb for cruelty
|became a proverb
|almost a proverb
Synonyms
byword (Very close in meaning and also somewhat literary; often used in the pattern "a byword for [quality].")
|
symbol (More general; does not always suggest people are repeatedly talking about it in words, just that it represents a quality.)
Antonyms
nonentity (Describes someone who is not known or talked about at all, the opposite of a widely spoken-of example.)
Themes
reputation
|literature
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A person or thing that many people talk about as a clear example of some quality, often for a long time.
A person or thing that is widely referred to as a typical example of a particular quality, often mentioned repeatedly in speech or writing.
Grammar
Dictionary form
proverb
IPA
GB/pɹˈɑvɚb/
US/pɹˈɑvɚb/
Syllables & stress
pro - verb (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pro)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: proverb
- Plural: proverbs
Word family
Expressions
according to the proverb
1/əkˈɔɹdɪŋ tə ðə pɹˈɑvɚb/
fixed phrase
formal
attribute an idea to a proverb
Used to say that an idea comes from a well-known proverb, not from the speaker.
Examples
- According to the proverb, "All that glitters is not gold," so we should be careful with first impressions.
- According to the proverb, "Many hands make light work," so let’s all help with the move.
as the proverb goes
1/ˈæz ðə pɹˈɑvɚb ɡˈoʊz/
fixed phrase
introduce a known proverb
Used before you say a well-known proverb, to show you are repeating a common saying.
Examples
- As the proverb goes, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
- As the proverb goes, "Measure twice, cut once," so let’s check the plan again.
as the proverb says
1/ˈæz ðə pɹˈɑvɚb sˈɛz/
fixed phrase
refer to what a proverb states
Used before or after you say a proverb, to show that you are talking about a common saying that people know.
Examples
- As the proverb says, "Time and tide wait for no man."
- We should start now—slow and steady wins the race, as the proverb says.