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Explaining "The pot calling the kettle black"
Reviewed and edited by 
Anwar Kareem 10/10/2024, 12:57
Anwar Kareem 10/10/2024, 12:57English.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.
Phrases
