Pot calling the kettle black

Meaning

The idiom "pot calling the kettle black" is used to describe a situation where two people or things are being compared, but one of them is being criticized for something that the other person is also guilty of doing. It's a metaphorical comparison between two similar objects or situations, highlighting the hypocrisy of the criticism.

Usage

• When John accused Mary of lying, she responded with "pot calling the kettle black".
• The CEO criticized his employees for not meeting their goals, but they all knew he was just as guilty of setting unrealistic expectations.
• Sarah told her friend that she didn't like hanging out with big groups of people, to which her friend replied "pot calling the kettle black".
• The mayor of the city defended his budget cuts by saying that other departments were just as guilty of overspending, in a "pot calling the kettle black" statement.
• When Tom accused his neighbor of not taking care of their yard, the neighbor replied with "pot calling the kettle black".

Roots and History

The idiom has its roots in medieval Europe, where pots and kettles were used for cooking over an open fire. The phrase likely originated when a pot was being heated on one side of the fire while a kettle was being heated on the other. If the pot was blackened by the heat, it would be ironic to accuse the kettle of being black, as both were equally responsible for causing the blackness. Over time, the idiom has evolved to refer to any situation where two people or things are being compared, and one is being criticized for something that the other person is also guilty of doing. The phrase has become a common metaphor used in contemporary language to highlight hypocrisy and irony.

Synonyms in English

• "Applesauce" - a euphemism for nonsense or rubbish.
• "Horse apples" - an insult for someone who is foolish or simple-minded.
• "The pot calling the kettle blue" - a variation on the idiom that emphasizes the absurdity of the comparison.
• "A wolf in sheep's clothing" - a metaphor for someone who appears harmless but is actually dangerous or deceitful.
• "Barking up the wrong tree" - a euphemism for making a mistake or pursuing a false lead.

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: "el burro con las alas de águila" (the donkey with the wings of an eagle) - a metaphor for someone who tries to be someone they are not.
• French: "le chat noir qui jette des mouches" (the black cat that chases flies) - a metaphor for someone who is trying to hide their flaws or mistakes.
• German: "die Katze die sich selbst kratzt" (the cat that scratches itself) - a self-deprecating term for someone who is critical of themselves.
• Italian: "il pescatore che caccia le vongole" (the fisherman who catches clams) - a metaphor for someone who tries to catch or trap others.
• Japanese: "もちろんもちろん" (machimochi) - a phrase that means "of course of course" and is used to express irony or sarcasm.

Similar Idioms

• blue eyed boy

• pull the wool over eyes

• piece of writing