SAYING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does saying mean? 

• SAYING (noun)
  The noun SAYING has 1 sense:

1. a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

  Familiarity information: SAYING used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SAYING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

expression; locution; saying

Context example:

pardon the expression

Hypernyms ("saying" is a kind of...):

language; oral communication; speech; speech communication; spoken communication; spoken language; voice communication ((language) communication by word of mouth)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "saying"):

anatomical; anatomical reference (an expression that relates to anatomy)

sumpsimus (a correct expression that takes the place of a popular but incorrect expression)

agrapha (sayings of Jesus not recorded in the canonical Gospels)

idiom; idiomatic expression; phrasal idiom; phrase; set phrase (an expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up)

adage; byword; proverb; saw (a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people)

epigram; quip (a witty saying)

axiom; maxim (a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits)

catchword; motto; shibboleth; slogan (a favorite saying of a sect or political group)

southernism (a locution or pronunciation peculiar to the southern United States)

Beatitude (one of the eight sayings of Jesus at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount; in Latin each saying begins with 'beatus' (blessed))

tongue twister (an expression that is difficult to articulate clearly)

shucks (an expression of disappointment or irritation)

dysphemism (an offensive or disparaging expression that is substituted for an inoffensive one)

euphemism (an inoffensive or indirect expression that is substituted for one that is considered offensive or too harsh)

ambiguity (an expression whose meaning cannot be determined from its context)

advice and consent (a legal expression in the United States Constitution that allows the Senate to constrain the President's powers of appointment and treaty-making)

calque; calque formation; loan translation (an expression introduced into one language by translating it from another language)

logion (a saying of Jesus that is regarded as authentic although it is not recorded in the Gospels)

Derivation:

say (recite or repeat a fixed text)

 Context examples 

Now she hoped for some beneficial change; and, after a period of nothing-saying amongst the party, some of them did decide on going in quest of tea.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

I know what I am saying; I have faith in myself.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

He turned to Leach, saying: Such langwidge! Shockin’!

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Mrs. Fairfax surprised me by looking out of the window with a sad countenance, and saying gravely—"Miss Eyre, will you come to breakfast?

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

She tried to excuse herself by saying that she would not be able to find the way thither.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Sir Thomas was at that moment looking round him, and saying, But where is Fanny?

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Oh! yes—Mr. Knightley and I both saying we liked it, and Mr. Elton's seeming resolved to learn to like it too.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The biggest of the tigers came up to the Lion and bowed, saying: Welcome, O King of Beasts!

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Isabella, in the meanwhile, had applied her handkerchief to her eyes; and Morland, miserable at such a sight, could not help saying, Nay, Catherine.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

I am not saying you will have difficulties, but if you do, Mars will urge you to deal directly with it.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)