Saying

'seɪɪŋ

nounBeginner🔥Very CommonGeneral
2 meanings2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

A concise and often repeated statement expressing a common truth or piece of advice.

'seɪɪŋ

nounneutralBeginner
General

A well-known phrase or proverb that expresses a truth or gives advice.

An old saying goes, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."

💡 Simply: A saying is like a short, memorable piece of wisdom, like 'Look before you leap!' Grandma might have one about everything, like 'Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise!'

👶 For kids: A saying is like a little sentence that people use to tell you something smart or give you advice.

More Examples

2

The saying "Actions speak louder than words" emphasizes the importance of behavior.

3

She repeated the saying to remind herself to stay positive.

How It's Used

General conversation

"My grandmother always had a wise saying for every situation."

Literature

"The author's novel was filled with memorable sayings."

2

The act or manner of speaking; a pronouncement or utterance.

'seɪɪŋ

nounneutralmedium
General

The act of uttering something.

The saying of grace before dinner is a tradition.

💡 Simply: It's when you say something, like when you're giving a speech, that's the saying part.

👶 For kids: When you are talking and saying words, like 'Hello!' or 'I love ice cream!'

More Examples

2

His saying of the words felt sincere.

3

The saying of the incantation was crucial to the ritual.

How It's Used

Formal writing

"The saying of the vows marked the beginning of their marriage."

Tip:Imagine someone's precise and deliberate speech.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

as the saying goes

A common proverb

"As the saying goes, you get what you pay for."

have a saying in

To be able to express your opinion and influence a decision or situation.

"The employees want to have a saying in company decisions."

From Middle English seying, from Old English secgan (“to say”).

The word 'saying' has been in use for centuries, often appearing in literature and religious texts to convey wisdom and teachings.

Memory tip

Think of a wise old person offering a quick, helpful phrase.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"secgan - to say, tell"

wise sayingold sayingcommon sayingtrue sayingfamous saying

Common misspellings

sayinggsayign

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written