saying
Americannoun
idioms
noun
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.
"The federal government is saying there's no need for Temporary Protected Status in the United States, while at the same time warning people not to travel to Somalia because it's dangerous," he told the BBC.
From BBC • May 7, 2026
It comes down to the outlook: Planet Fitness lowered its annual forecasts for both earnings and revenue, saying that sign-ups disappointed.
From Barron's • May 7, 2026
Gun rights advocates have praised the proposed change, saying it will enable citizens to more easily ship handguns for repairs, for sports shooting on vacation and when relocating to a new address.
From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026
Canvas, one of the most widely used education apps, posted a notice on its website Thursday saying its software was currently unavailable and it was investigating the situation.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
For Gingersnipes, in all the hours he had known her, had never gone a minute without saying, shouting, or asking something.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
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.
