Explaining "Little pitchers have big ears"

What does it mean?

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

Origin

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.