How to Use proverbial in a Sentence

proverbial

adjective
Definition of proverbialnext
  • The walls may be white, but this is the proverbial glass house.
    — Peter Debruge, Variety, 3 Nov. 2023
  • The Minecraft servers were the proverbial canary in the coal mine.
    — Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 12 Dec. 2021
  • But now the proverbial brush—read: the phone—is in our hand.
    — Tom Rasmussen, Vogue, 18 May 2022
  • To get back on the proverbial horse (whose name is Tiffany).
    — Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024
  • When Shanae returns to the group, the poop hits the proverbial fan.
    — Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 25 Jan. 2022
  • Those deals are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, though.
    — Imani Moise, WSJ, 24 Nov. 2022
  • The proverbial storm started in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic.
    — Hansa Bhargava, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2022
  • Which is not to say that the show is out of the proverbial deep, dark woods yet.
    — Judy Berman, TIME, 19 Sep. 2024
  • The Ravens are caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place.
    — Mike Preston, baltimoresun.com, 25 Oct. 2021
  • But back in the days when Covid was rampant, the fate of the five-song suite was up in the proverbial air.
    — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2024
  • The seas are warming at a rate that could boil alive the proverbial toad.
    — Meghan O'Gieblyn, Wired, 6 Jan. 2022
  • Now comes the hard work of threading the proverbial needle.
    — Matt Laslo, WIRED, 22 Dec. 2023
  • Just like that, the Missouri Tigers’ backs are against the proverbial wall.
    — Kansas City Star, 18 May 2024
  • But how to separate the proverbial blender wheat from the chaff?
    — Tiffany Hopkins, Bon Appétit, 1 Feb. 2023
  • Any proverbial skeletons that may have been missed will emerge in the days and weeks to come.
    — Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2024
  • Gospel has flourished in the church; trap music in the proverbial streets.
    — Amy Carleton, Charlotte Observer, 20 June 2024
  • But what happens when both halves wear the proverbial trousers?
    — Grace McCloud, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2023
  • That led to an initial jam session to check the proverbial vibes.
    — Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 16 Feb. 2024
  • The injury represents a proverbial kick in the teeth for the team, franchise and fans.
    — oregonlive, 13 Sep. 2023
  • For the first time since before the 2001 season, Belichick is on the proverbial hot seat.
    — Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2023
  • My ethos was to be a proverbial sledgehammer to the door that people have to knock on.
    — Neena Rouhani, Billboard, 7 Nov. 2022
  • On Friday, 145 pounds came out of the proverbial hat to start all four matches.
    — J. Daniel Pearson, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2023
  • In short, the fix was in the moment Ron DeSantis put his thumb on the proverbial scale.
    — Letters To The Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2024
  • And there are so many presents under this proverbial tree.
    — Breanne L. Heldman, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2023
  • After all, there is always light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.
    — Ed Silverman, STAT, 27 June 2023
  • Unfortunately, the next step is that the wheels start to come off the proverbial bus.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes, 5 Feb. 2023
  • Walgreens has been on the proverbial chopping block for some time.
    — Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 20 Feb. 2024
  • Essentially, the best anoraks are up for the proverbial job.
    — Isaiah Freeman-Schub, Robb Report, 21 Dec. 2023
  • Find that thought that gives you the energy to lace your proverbial sneakers and run.
    — Nazar Gulyk, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Get out some proverbial maps and make your friends listen to a few arguments about the most efficient paths.
    — Jennifer Culp, Them, 1 Nov. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'proverbial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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