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.”

---

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]

---

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

He's young, but he may not be wet behind the ears.

From BBC

At just 22, Birmingham-born Lavender was still wet behind the ears in terms of his acting career.

From BBC

They were both ambitious and “wet behind the ears,” Fischer said.

From Seattle Times

But in this telling, Fry comes across as not just inexperienced but insecure: wet behind the ears, a little timid, wary of crossing lines.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fresh
• new
• raw