“The pot calling the kettle black” is the proverb for someone who criticises in others a fault they have themselves. Here is what it means, where it comes from, how to use it, and a few sayings that share its irony.
What Does “The Pot Calling the Kettle Black” Mean?
The proverb describes a person who accuses someone else of a fault that they are themselves guilty of. It points out the hypocrisy of criticising in another the very flaw you share. The image comes from the kitchen: in the days of open fires, both the cooking pot and the kettle were blackened with soot — so for the pot to mock the kettle for being black is absurd, since the pot is just as black itself.
Origin of the Proverb
The saying dates from the seventeenth century. An early English version appears in Thomas Shelton’s 1620 translation of Cervantes’ Don Quixote, where the line runs much like “the pot calls the kettle black.” The picture made perfect sense in an age when every pot and kettle hung over a sooty hearth, and the proverb has stayed in constant use as one of the sharpest ways to call out hypocrisy.
Examples in a Sentence
- “He called me lazy? That’s the pot calling the kettle black.”
- “She accused them of gossiping — the pot calling the kettle black if ever there was.”
- “For him to complain about overspending is the pot calling the kettle black.”
Similar Proverbs
- People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones — don’t criticise others for faults you share.
- Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones — the same caution against hypocrisy.
- The kiln calls the oven burnt-house — an older version of the same idea.
- Physician, heal thyself — fix your own faults before correcting others’.
For more sayings about hypocrisy and human nature, see our smart thoughts and the full library of proverbs and their meanings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “the pot calling the kettle black” mean?
It describes a hypocrite — someone who accuses another person of a fault that they are guilty of themselves.
Where does the proverb come from?
It dates from the seventeenth century, with an early English version in Thomas Shelton’s 1620 translation of Cervantes’ Don Quixote; both pot and kettle were blackened by the cooking fire.
What is a similar proverb?
“People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones” shares the same warning against criticising in others a fault you share.