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As the saying goes

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A formulaic phrase introducing a proverb, maxim, or common wisdom to reinforce a point; in poetry, it signals the speaker's reliance on collective experience and lends authority to an argument.

Detailed Definition
A meta-phrase bridging wisdom. Poets use it to weave folk truths into verse, grounding abstract ideas in cultural heritage for authenticity and rhythm.
Example
Example in poetry:
A reflective poem might begin, as the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining; In a dramatic monologue, as the saying goes can make the speaker sound ordinary and conversational; The phrase helps a poet introduce folk wisdom before questioning it; A comic poem might use as the saying goes to soften a sharp truth.
Additional Notes
This phrase signals that the speaker is invoking shared wisdom, often a proverb or familiar idiom. In poetry it can introduce communal speech, inherited moral teaching, or a deliberately clichéd expression. Students should watch how a poet frames it: the phrase may endorse common sense, question it, parody it, or place folk wisdom in tension with personal experience. It is a useful marker of voice and register.
Also Known As
As they say as the proverb goes
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