An adage is a short, wise saying that people have repeated for so long it's become well-known and trusted. “Look before you leap” is an adage warning people to think before they act. “Practice makes perfect” is an adage reminding us that repetition leads to skill.

Adages capture important truths about life in memorable phrases that stick in your mind. They're passed down through generations because they keep proving useful. When your grandmother tells you “a stitch in time saves nine,” she's sharing an adage about fixing small problems before they become big ones.

What makes something an adage rather than just any old saying? Time and truth. An adage has been around long enough that many people know it, and it's proven useful enough that people keep sharing it. “The early bird catches the worm” remains an adage because people keep finding it true that starting early gives you an advantage.

You might also hear the words proverb, maxim, or aphorism used to mean similar things, though adage emphasizes that the saying is old and widely accepted.