Explaining "The pot calling the kettle black"

Reviewed and edited by

Anwar Kareem 10/10/2024, 12:57

English.me team member

What does it mean?

The phrase "The pot calling the kettle black" is an idiom used to describe a situation where someone criticizes another person for a fault they themselves also have.

Tone

The tone of this phrase is often ironic or humorous, highlighting hypocrisy.

Origin

The expression is thought to have originated from 17th-century literature, where both pots and kettles made of cast iron would get darkened by use over a fire, making it ironic for one to criticize the other for being blackened.

Examples of usage

After Jake mocked Sara for being late, she replied, "That's like the pot calling the kettle black, considering how often you've been late."
When the two arguing politicians accused each other of dishonesty, it seemed a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black.