proverbial
adjective
[ prəˈvəːbɪəl ]
• (of a word or phrase) referred to in a proverb or idiom.
• "I'm going to stick out like the proverbial sore thumb"
proverbial
noun
• used to stand for a word or phrase that is normally part of a proverb or idiom but is not actually uttered.
• "one word out of line, and the proverbial hits the fan"
Origin:
late Middle English: from Latin proverbialis, from proverbium (see proverb).
