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saying

American  
[sey-ing] / ˈseɪ ɪŋ /

noun

  1. something said, say, especially a proverb or apothegm.

    Synonyms:
    aphorism, saw, adage, maxim

idioms

  1. go without saying, to be completely self-evident; be understood.

    It goes without saying that you are welcome to visit us at any time.
saying British  
/ ˈseɪɪŋ /

noun

  1. a maxim, adage, or proverb

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of saying

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (gerund); say 1, -ing 1

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.

“Investors are getting down to brass tacks and saying, ‘What do we want to own over the next few months?’”

From MarketWatch

The 40-year-old said she had made a trip to the mall on Monday, saying while the atmosphere was "a bit subdued" it was busy.

From BBC

“Investors are getting down to brass tacks and saying ‘what do we want to own over the next few months,’” MAI’s Grisanti said.

From MarketWatch

Discovery resisted calls to sell CNN, saying it was important to its portfolio.

From Los Angeles Times

News last July that Zendaya was so busy that there was simply no time for wedding planning, saying at the time that the “process hasn’t even started yet.”

From Los Angeles Times

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.