saying

American  

[sey-ing] / ˈseɪ ɪŋ /

noun

1. something said, say, especially a proverb or apothegm.

   Synonyms:

   aphorism, saw, adage, maxim

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idioms

1. go without saying, to be completely self-evident; be understood.

   It goes without saying that you are welcome to visit us at any time.

saying British  

/ ˈseɪɪŋ /

noun

1. a maxim, adage, or proverb

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Etymology

Origin of saying

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (gerund); say ¹, -ing ¹

Explanation

A short, common, and easy-to-remember phrase is a saying. When class ends right before your turn to give a speech, you might use the saying, "Saved by the bell!" A saying is basically the same as an aphorism, an adage, or a proverb, usually offering some kind of wisdom. If you accidentally break your sister's favorite teacup, you might think of the saying "To err is human, to forgive divine," which means that everyone makes mistakes but only truly remarkable people are able to forgive these mistakes. You should probably also remind yourself of the saying, "Honesty is the best policy."

Example Sentences

Ollie: They weren't saying: 'Oh no, you aren't good enough.'

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Time had consequently run out to pass the legislation before parliament was dissolved in the coming weeks, it said, quoting a government source as saying the situation was "deeply frustrating".

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

But it "criticised all parties to the dispute for allowing it to play out publicly", saying the "damaging internal dispute" had "severely impacted the charity's reputation".

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

The former Migos rapper shared a statement on Instagram saying he was in “good” condition but “planning to be better.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

And while she was saying that, I opened my mouth to say that I was sorry but all that came out were sobs.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• saw
• statement