proverbial
adjective
pro·ver·bi·al prə-ˈvər-bē-əl 
1
: of, relating to, or resembling a proverb
2
: that has become a proverb or byword : commonly spoken of
the proverbial smoking gun
proverbially
prə-ˈvər-bē-ə-lē
adverb 
Example Sentences
Insanity roamed through her large midwestern tribe, cloistered in proverbial dark closets in gabled houses in areas of the country where no one else lived for miles and miles … 
Lynne Tillman, Motion Sickness, 1991 I keep running across people who speak fondly about what they imagine to be the comforts of autocracy, who long for the assurances of the proverbial man on the white horse likely to do something hard and puritanical about the moral relativism that has made a mess of the cities, the schools, and prime-time television. Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, November 1990
Lynne Tillman, Motion Sickness, 1991 I keep running across people who speak fondly about what they imagine to be the comforts of autocracy, who long for the assurances of the proverbial man on the white horse likely to do something hard and puritanical about the moral relativism that has made a mess of the cities, the schools, and prime-time television. Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, November 1990 Recent Examples on the Web But which door reveals the luxury car, not the proverbial goat? Donna Bulseco, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022 Too true, as our sit-down interview with Murray was interrupted by the dulcet sounds his creation revving to a proverbial 11 (or 12). Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2022 Here are 10 recommendations to spruce things up, a list grounded in the fact that tailgating is the proverbial marathon. Josh Noel, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 Harsin is on the proverbial hot seat after last season’s five-game losing streak. al, 1 Sep. 2022 No matter their contributions or roles, underclassmen must wait until their final high school season to pin the proverbial C to their chest. Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Aug. 2022 And many Americans have proverbial bike scars from the pandemic; about 16 million working-age Americans currently have long COVID, according to the Census Bureau’s June to July 2022 HPS survey. Chloe Berger, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2022 Tilda Swinton is Alithea, a professor who liberates him and is granted the proverbial three wishes. Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Aug. 2022 Meanwhile, Robinson and McGrath are leaving no proverbial stone unturned. Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 14 Dec. 2021 See More
Donna Bulseco, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022 Too true, as our sit-down interview with Murray was interrupted by the dulcet sounds his creation revving to a proverbial 11 (or 12). Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2022 Here are 10 recommendations to spruce things up, a list grounded in the fact that tailgating is the proverbial marathon. Josh Noel, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 Harsin is on the proverbial hot seat after last season’s five-game losing streak. al, 1 Sep. 2022 No matter their contributions or roles, underclassmen must wait until their final high school season to pin the proverbial C to their chest. Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Aug. 2022 And many Americans have proverbial bike scars from the pandemic; about 16 million working-age Americans currently have long COVID, according to the Census Bureau’s June to July 2022 HPS survey. Chloe Berger, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2022 Tilda Swinton is Alithea, a professor who liberates him and is granted the proverbial three wishes. Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Aug. 2022 Meanwhile, Robinson and McGrath are leaving no proverbial stone unturned. Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 14 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
see proverb entry 1
First Known Use
1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
proverbial
adjective
pro·ver·bi·al prə-ˈvər-bē-əl
1
: of a proverb
a proverbial expression
2
: commonly spoken of
You have the proverbial beginner's luck.