wet behind the ears

Cultural  

1. Immature, inexperienced, and naïve: “Don't rely on his advice about girlfriends; he's still wet behind the ears.”

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wet behind the ears Idioms  

1. Also, not dry behind the ears. Immature, inexperienced, as in How can you take instructions from Tom? He's still wet behind the ears, or Jane's not dry behind the ears yet. This term alludes to the fact that the last place to dry in a newborn colt or calf is the indentation behind its ears. [Early 1900s]

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Example Sentences

The first time we met in 2012, they were still wet behind the ears, and giddy from making their debut at London's O2 Arena.

From BBC • Dec. 13, 2025

These corrections officers are still a little wet behind the ears in a second season of the docu-series “Behind Bars: Rookie Year.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 19, 2016

“She walked into a situation - a tiny little indie movie with a bunch of young people wet behind the ears - and she came in so funny, so crisp and so brilliant,” says Showalter.

From Washington Times • Mar. 9, 2016

He recalls legendary coach Chuck Noll telling the wet behind the ears crop of new talent that even though being paid to play made football their profession, it shouldn’t be their life.

From Forbes • Feb. 11, 2015

“This guy says you’re so wet behind the ears, your lobes are dripping.”

From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz

Related Words

• fresh
• new
• raw