saying
Americannoun
idioms
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing saying
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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One Idea, Part 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Saying “no” to an invitation may cause resentment.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 2, 2026
“It’s actually offensive, like deeply offensive, that her remarks still show zero accountability for what she did to them. Saying, ‘I’m sorry you got hurt,’ is not an apology,” Lee said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
Saying too much more would spoil all of the fun to be had, but the banana is only the beginning.
From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026
Saying the rush to get a deal had “looked opportunistic and sloppy,” Chief Executive Sam Altman posted messages on X trying to explain and assuage concerns.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026
Saying sorry for my silence sounds stupid even to me but I am so sorry and I feel so stupid.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
