0
Nsfs2 Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary

Proverbial

Hi,

In explaining 'proverbial' a dictionary gives the example: 'He kicked the proverbial bucket'.

I couldn't understand what the sentence means. Would you help, please?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

To "kick the bucket" is a common idiom meaning "to die". Strictly speaking it's not a proverb, but the adjective 'proverbial' is commonly used and abused to refer to anything that even remotely resembles a proverb. He kicked the proverbial bucket.

— Ozzourti

  • To "kick the bucket" is a common idiom meaning "to die".
  • Strictly speaking it's not a proverb, but the adjective 'proverbial' is commonly used and abused to refer to anything that even remotely resembles a proverb.
  • He kicked the proverbial bucket.
  • = He kicked the bucket.
  • = He died.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

3 Answers
0
To "kick the bucket" is a common idiom meaning "to die".

Strictly speaking it's not a proverb, but the adjective 'proverbial' is commonly used and abused to refer to anything that even remotely resembles a proverb.

He kicked the proverbial bucket. = He kicked the bucket. = He died.

There you go. Using five words to express what could have been communicated with tw
0
0
But 'he kicked the proverbial bucket' adds attitude that 'he died' does not. It tells us that the speaker is not upset or serious, and in fact sees some humour in the circumstances of the death.

Clive
0
0
Indeed; "he kicked the bucket" is a humorous way of saying "he died", but I don't think that the "proverbial" adds anything substantial to the overall meaning. Maybe it makes the sentence sound a little less serious, but that's about it in my view.
0

Related Questions