English idiom

pot calling the kettle black

Register · Informal CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

criticizing someone for a fault you share

Why this phrase?

Both a pot and a kettle get blackened over the fire; for either to call the other black is absurd self-criticism.

Example

“You call me lazy? That's the pot calling the kettle black.”

Recorded usage

These full forms were measured in COCA in 2016–2017. Counts apply to the quoted form, not every use of this idiom; overlapping forms are not added together.

“The pot calls the kettle black” — 1 recorded occurrences

Grouped source variants; editorially classified here as an idiom. Usage counts are separate from CEFR difficulty.

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

a bad press

unfavorable reporting or reputation in the media or among people

out of line

behaving or speaking beyond acceptable limits

put your money where your mouth is

to back up your words with action, especially money

under fire

being strongly criticized or attacked

water off a duck's back

criticism that has no effect on someone

blind leading the blind

people with no experience guiding others who have no experience

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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