wet behind the ears

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

Idioms and Phrases

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

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

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

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

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

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He was naive, a bit wet behind the ears, but that got him the wins.

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Related Words

• fresh 
• new 
• raw