they say

phrase

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see they, say.

“They said the house was haunted.”

Similar
it is commonly saidpeople saypeople in general saya common saying is
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Meanings

phrase
  1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see they, say.

    They said the house was haunted.

  2. Used to introduce a statement as common knowledge. (This entry is a translation hub.)

    They say the number 13 is unlucky.

    3 more examples

    Take the worst with the best, there's Grimaldi the souldier, a very well-timbred fellow: they say he is a Roman, Nephew to the Duke Mount Ferratto; they say he did good service in the warrs against the Millanoys.

    c. 1626 or 1629–1633 (first performance), [John Ford], ’Tis Pitty Shee’s a Whore […], London: […] Nicholas Okes for Richard Collins, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act I

    1. What are some of the things they said man would never do? 2. Name some dreams once thought of as impossible but have been realized. 3. Give examples of man's achievements[…]

    2003, The New Dimensions in Learning English, Rex Bookstore, Inc., →ISBN, page 447

    "Let's talk about you. Why did you break up with the general?" *: "Maybe it's time I really got to know the lowly doughboy." […] *: "A cop and a reporter..." Mason rubbed his chin and feigned a thoughtful pause. "Well, they said man would never fly."

    2016, John A. Connell, Ruins of War, Berkley, →ISBN, page 251

    Synonyms: it is commonly said, people say, people in general say, a common saying is

Synonyms & antonyms

phraseUsed to introduce a statement as common knowledge. (This entry is a translation hub.)

Similar
it is commonly saidpeople saypeople in general saya common saying is

Translations

Bulgarian ка́зват
  • ка́зват (kázvat)it is commonly said
Chinese Mandarin 據說 /据说, 他們都説 /他们都说
  • 據說 /据说 (jùshuō)it is commonly said
  • 他們都説 /他们都说 (tāmen dōu shuō)it is commonly said
  • 人們説 /人们说 (rénmen shuō)it is commonly said
  • 他們説 /他们说 (tāmen shuō)it is commonly said
  • 別人都説 /别人都说 (biérén dōus huō)it is commonly said
Finnish niinhän sitä sanotaan, että...
  • niinhän sitä sanotaan, että...it is commonly said
German man sagt, es heißt
  • man sagtit is commonly said
  • es heißtit is commonly said
Romanian se zice
  • se ziceit is commonly said
Swedish man säger, det heter
  • man sägerit is commonly said
  • det heterit is commonly said
Cite this entry
APA

they say. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/they%20say

MLA

“they say.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/they%20say. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “they say,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/they%20say.

Source: they say on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.