pot calling the kettle black, the


Accusing someone of faults that one has oneself, as in Tom's criticizing Dexter for dubious line calls is a case of the pot calling the kettle black, since Tom's about the worst line judge I've ever seen. This expression dates from the days of open-hearth cooking, which blackens practically all the utensils used. [Early 1600s]

Words Nearby pot calling the kettle black, the

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.