saying

American  

[sey-ing] / ˈseɪ ɪŋ /

noun

1. something said, 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); see 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

Guardiola responded by saying the insinuation that City were spending their way to success "bothers me, because it's not true that we spent £200m every window."

From BBC • May 19, 2026

"The deaths we are reporting are all the deaths we have identified in the community, without necessarily saying that they are all linked to Ebola," he added.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

As Dudamel plans for his next chapter, he indicates that the advice he gives students is what he is also saying to himself.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

I have been asking them to provide accounting, but they are basically saying that was my mother’s business and they can’t disclose her last statement to me.

From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026

I’d protected myself by saying our interactions were all shallow.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• saw
• statement