they say

English

Phrase

they say

1. It is commonly said; people in general say; a common saying is.

   They say the number 13 is unlucky.

   They said the house was haunted.

   • 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:

     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.

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

     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 […]

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

     "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."

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

Related terms

• so they say
• you know what they say

 

Translations

it is commonly said

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 據說／据说 (zh) (jùshuō)

• Finnish: niinhän sitä sanotaan, että...
• German: man sagt, es heißt
• Romanian: se zice
• Swedish: man säger, det heter

See also

• as the saying goes
• word is