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proverbial fumes

English translation: related to a commong saying

03:07 Feb 23, 2009
English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Aerospace / Aviation / Space
English term or phrase: proverbial fumes
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.
Shirley Fan
Local time: 07:41
Selected answer:related to a commong saying
Explanation:
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
Selected response from:

David Russi
United States
Local time: 17:41
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
5 +5related to a commong saying
David Russi


  

Answers


41 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +5
related to a commong saying


Explanation:
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

David Russi
United States
Local time: 17:41
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tina Vonhof (X)
19 mins
agree  ohemulen
3 hrs
agree  Jack Doughty
3 hrs
agree  Phong Le
5 hrs
agree  David Moore (X)
6 hrs
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