{"id":3776,"date":"2022-05-18T16:07:24","date_gmt":"2022-05-18T16:07:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=3776"},"modified":"2022-05-18T16:07:24","modified_gmt":"2022-05-18T16:07:24","slug":"the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"The Pot Calling the Kettle Black \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you looking for a saying to describe someone being a hypocrite? You could use the phrase \u201cthe pot calling the kettle black<\/em>\u201d to describe the speaker's hypocritic judgment. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

When you use the expression, \u201cthe pot calling the kettle black<\/em>,\u201d you\u2019re <\/strong>pointing out the hypocrisy of someone\u2019s statement.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The person speaking will be accusing someone or judging them for something they too have done themselves in the past. It\u2019s a way of telling the person that they need to let their actions match their words.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cLook at Tim berating Ben for forgetting to bring up the screen during the podcast when he forgets to do the same thing half the time. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, you\u2019re giving her a hard time for doing the same thing that got you in trouble last week? It seems we have the pot calling the kettle black.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. You made the same mistake last week, and weren\u2019t you glad no one came down on you as hard for making it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe president is on TV accusing the other countries' leaders of war crimes when he\u2019s responsible for them himself. It looks like the pot calling the kettle black again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSylvia is disciplining Karen for forgetting to do the stocktake again. I don\u2019t know how she can do it with a straight face after she forgot it last week herself. I guess it\u2019s the pot calling the kettle black.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The expression \u201cthe pot calling the kettle black\u201d originates from a time when people would cook over a fire, causing the oxidation of smoke under the pots and pans, leading to a layer of back soot on the bottom.<\/p>\n

This problem happens to all cast iron cookware. There is no need to single out one for offering less performance than the other. They both share the same fault.<\/p>\n

Thomas Shelton translated the novel Don Quixote in 1620, where the first iteration of the saying appears in archaic language as follows.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are like what is said that the frying pan said to the kettle, \u2018Avaunt, black- brows.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Another example comes from the book \u201cSome Fruits of Solitude\u201d by William Penn, published in 1693, where the saying appears as follows.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor a Covetous Man to inveigh against Prodigality, an Atheist against Idolatry, a Tyrant against Rebellion, or a Lyer against Forgery, and a Drunkard against Intemperance, is for the Pot to call the Kettle black.\u201d<\/p>\n