Saw (saying)
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A saw is an old saying or commonly repeated phrase or idea; a conventional wisdom. While "old saw" is a common cliché, some consider it a tautology.[1][2]
Among various synonyms for "saying", dictionaries from 18th century singled out "saw" as a vulgar, uneducated wisdom, often based in supersititions.[3] This flavor is seen in the expressions "old women's saws" and "old wife's saws."
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ The Columbia Guide to Standard American English, Kenneth George Wilson (1993) ISBN 0231069898, p. 381
- ^ Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Synonyms, article "Saying"
- ^ "English Synonymes: With Copious Illustrations and Explanations" (1863) p. 211
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