General
pot calling the kettle black
What does pot calling the kettle black mean?
Said when someone criticizes a flaw in another that they share.
"You callin' me lazy? That's the pot calling the kettle black."
Origin
Old proverb (both pot and kettle blackened by soot), long common in Southern speech.
Frequently asked questions
What does "the pot calling the kettle black" mean?
It describes a hypocrite who criticizes someone else for a flaw they share themselves.
When is it used?
You say it to point out that an accuser is guilty of the very thing they're complaining about.
Where does the image come from?
Both a pot and a kettle over a fire get blackened by soot, so one has no standing to call the other black.
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