Pronunciation: /oʊld sɔː/

Definitions of old saw

noun a tool used for cutting or sawing wood, typically with a long, thin blade

Example Sentences

A1 My grandma always used to say the old saw, 'A stitch in time saves nine.'

A2 The old saw, 'An apple a day keeps the doctor away,' is a popular saying.

B1 As the old saw goes, 'Don't count your chickens before they hatch.'

B2 The old saw, 'Actions speak louder than words,' is often true in business.

C1 He dismissed the old saw, 'Money can't buy happiness,' as outdated.

C2 Despite the old saw, 'The early bird catches the worm,' she preferred to sleep in.

adjective showing signs of age; not new or fresh

Example Sentences

A1 My grandmother always used to say the old saw, 'Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.'

A2 The farmer followed the old saw of 'Measure twice, cut once' to ensure his fence was built correctly.

B1 In cooking class, we learned the old saw that 'A watched pot never boils'.

B2 Despite his young age, the CEO followed the old saw of 'Don't count your chickens before they hatch' in business negotiations.

C1 The experienced detective knew the old saw 'Follow the money' would lead to solving the case.

C2 The professor often quoted the old saw 'Those who can, do; those who can't, teach' to motivate his students to excel.

Examples of old saw in a Sentence

formal As the old saw goes, 'A penny saved is a penny earned.'

informal You know what they say, 'The early bird catches the worm' - it's an old saw but true!

slang My grandpa always used to say, 'Don't count your chickens before they hatch' - it's an old saw but still relevant.

figurative The old saw about 'actions speaking louder than words' is something to keep in mind when dealing with difficult situations.

Grammatical Forms of old saw

past tense

sawed

plural

old saws

comparative

older saw

superlative

oldest saw

present tense

see

future tense

will see

perfect tense

have seen

continuous tense

is seeing

singular

old saw

positive degree

old

infinitive

to see

gerund

seeing

participle

seen

Origin and Evolution of old saw

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: English
Story behind the word: The term 'old saw' originated from the practice of using saws in woodworking and carpentry, where older saws were often passed down through generations and considered to have accumulated wisdom and experience.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the phrase 'old saw' evolved to refer to a well-known and often repeated saying or proverb, with a connotation of being outdated or cliché.