English
español
française
italiano
deutsche
日本語
polski
česky
svenska
Türkçe
Nederlands
Explaining "Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones"
Reviewed and edited by 
Anwar Kareem 03/11/2024, 04:10
Anwar Kareem 03/11/2024, 04:10English.me team member
What does it mean?
The phrase means that people who are vulnerable to criticism or have weaknesses of their own should not criticize or attack others, as it can backfire and highlight their own faults.
Tone
Cautionary
Origin
The phrase dates back to Geoffrey Chaucer's "Troilus and Criseyde" in the 14th century, but the modern form first appeared in the 17th century.
Examples of usage
- Before you criticize her for her mistakes, remember those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
- John kept pointing out everyone else's flaws, even though he had plenty of his own. As they say, those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
- Anna realized she was in no position to judge, as she too had once struggled with the same issue - living in a glass house means you shouldn’t throw stones.
Phrases
