Little pitchers have big ears

Cultural  

1. Adults must be careful about what they say within the hearing of children. The saying refers to the large handles (ears) sometimes attached to small vessels.

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little pitchers have big ears Idioms  

1. Young children often overhear something they should not. For example, Don't use any swear words around Brian—little pitchers have big ears. This metaphoric expression, which likens the curved handle of a pitcher to the human ear, was already in John Heywood's proverb collection of 1546.

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Example Sentences

Then, “No matter. Little pitchers have big ears, as they say. Yes. The Honour Guard.”

From Literature

Little pitchers have big ears, as the saying goes, but those ears still need protection from loud music.

From New York Times

“Because little pitchers have big ears,” Bertha sighed.

From Literature

“Take care, Sarah,” he muttered, setting down the sobbing Nannette, none too gently, upon the floor, “little pitchers have big ears, and there’s no knowing when or where they might blab.”

From Project Gutenberg

The door was open into the children’s room and it was notorious that “little pitchers have big ears.”

From Project Gutenberg