“Little pitchers have big ears”: meaning, origin and examples
What it means
The phrase means that children often hear and understand more than adults might expect, so one should be careful about what is said in their presence.
Tone Cautionary
Where it comes from
The phrase dates back to the 16th century, where pitchers refers to small containers with handles, and ears in this context refers to the handles, suggesting that children, like these pitchers, may overhear conversations meant for adults.
Examples
- We should talk about this later, little pitchers have big ears.
- Mind your language at the dinner table; remember, little pitchers have big ears.
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