This is what I see as the thesis of Cooperâs book, an idea he traces across continents and through four centuries, from Mathew Lewisâs Gothic novel The Monk (1796) to James Wanâs âtorture pornâ film Saw (2004).
The definition of proverbial is something well-known or commonly referred to. When someone always uses the same old excuse, over and over again until it becomes old news, this is an example of that person's proverbial excuse. 1  of, or having the nature of, a proverb.  expressed in a proverb.
Expressions likes idioms and proverbs are sayings whose meanings are figurative rather than literal. Such expressions are often peculiar to a language. The English language has many sayings and proverbs that mention the weather in both positive and negative tones. The following sections define some common English expressions that mention the weather.