C2 a short sentence, etc., usually known by many people, stating something commonly experienced or giving advice谚语,格言
The appetite, says the proverb, grows with eating.俗话说,吃得越多,胃口越大。
[ + that ] There is an old Arab proverb that everything you write or speak should pass through three gates: Is this kind? Is this necessary? Is this true?有句古老的阿拉伯谚语说,你写的或说的每句话都得经过三道关:这是出于善意的吗?这是必要的吗?这是真的吗?