Feb 23, 2009 03:07
15 yrs ago
English term
Devoting myself to translation
Native in: Chinese 
Works in: Chinese to English, English to Chinese, Japanese to Chinese, and 2 more.
proverbial fumes
Non-PRO
English
Tech/Engineering
Aerospace / Aviation / Space
At dawn, they peered out the windows ,longing for land before the fuel gauges spun down to zero. Operating on those proverbial fumes, they found Africa just in time.
Responses
| 5 +5 | related to a commong saying |
David Russi
|
Responses
+5
41 mins
David Russi
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
United States
30+ years, stopped counting...
Native in: English , Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
related to a commong saying
running on fumes means to have very little fuel left, because it is a common phrase, it is being referred to as proverbial. See 2, "commonly spoken of" below
Webster's
pro£ver£bi£al
Pronunciation:pr**v*rb**l, -vub-, -v*ib-
Function:adjective
Etymology:Latin proverbialis, from proverbium proverb + -alis -al * more at PROVERB
1 : of, relating to, or resembling a proverb *the proverbial style* *proverbial wisdom* *proverbial comparisons*
2 : that has become a proverb or byword : commonly spoken of *the proverbial restlessness of sailors— Herman Melville*
–pro£ver£bi£al£ly \-**l*, -li\ adverb
Webster's
pro£ver£bi£al
Pronunciation:pr**v*rb**l, -vub-, -v*ib-
Function:adjective
Etymology:Latin proverbialis, from proverbium proverb + -alis -al * more at PROVERB
1 : of, relating to, or resembling a proverb *the proverbial style* *proverbial wisdom* *proverbial comparisons*
2 : that has become a proverb or byword : commonly spoken of *the proverbial restlessness of sailors— Herman Melville*
–pro£ver£bi£al£ly \-**l*, -li\ adverb
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
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