The phrase "proverbial rug" means a common or well-known saying or comparison that people often use to describe a situation or feeling. It is like a figurative carpet that represents a typical or representative example. Full definition
A massive natural gas agreement between Asian superpowers may have just pulled the proverbial rug out from under Canada's hopes to become a major exporter of Liquefied Natural Gas. (jeffrubinssmallerworld.com)
When things could not have been more robust, the proverbial rug was pulled out from underneath us in the fourth quarter of -LSB-...] (miningrecruitmentgroup.com)
I am a Catholic and I am sickened that these abuses continue to be swept under the proverbial rug and the senior church clergy continues to deny that there is a problem or that they are aware of these crimes when they happen. (religion.blogs.cnn.com)