Sayings: meaning, definitions and examples

General use for short, commonly known expressions that convey wisdom or truths. They are often informal.

• My grandmother always had the best sayings, like 'Better late than never.'
• He loves to start his speeches with old sayings that everyone can relate to.

Traditional sayings that express common-sense wisdom or truth, often passed down through generations. Frequently used in cultural or moral contexts.

• A well-known Chinese proverb states, 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.'
• She quoted several African proverbs to illustrate her points about community and unity.

Brief, cleverly worded statements that express a deep truth or insight. Often used in literary or philosophical contexts.

• One of my favorite aphorisms from Oscar Wilde is, 'Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.'
• The book is filled with sharp aphorisms that really make you think about life.

Fundamental principles or rules of conduct. Used in more formal or philosophical discussions.

• The maxim 'Actions speak louder than words' is essential for understanding true character.
• In his speech, he outlined several maxims that should guide our daily behavior.

Used to refer to short, commonly known sentences or maxims that express a general truth or advice. Often traditional and passed down through generations.

• As the saying goes, 'Actions speak louder than words.'
• There are many old sayings that still hold true today.

Used to describe a small group of words standing together as a conceptual unit, but without necessitating a full sentence structure. Can be part of expressions, idioms, or sayings.

• The phrase "better late than never" suggests it's better to do something late than not at all.
• She used the phrase 'in the blink of an eye' to describe how quickly things changed.

Used to describe specific ways of speaking or forms of words to convey particular meanings. Can be formal, informal, or idiomatic.

• She has a puzzled expression on her face.
• "Break the ice" is a common expression used to describe making people feel more comfortable.
• His expressions often include a lot of slang.

Used for phrases or expressions with a meaning that is not obvious from the individual words. Often culturally or regionally specific and can be confusing for non-native speakers.

• "It's raining cats and dogs" is an idiom meaning it's raining very heavily.
• Learning idioms can help you sound more like a native speaker.