Pot Calling the Kettle Black

An expression that is said when one accuses another person of that which they are equally guilty of.

Many years ago, people used to cook over an open flame using copper kettles and iron pots. The copper kettles were usually polished after every use whereas the iron pots were not and remained blackened from the soot from previous cookings. Well someone got the idea that if the iron pot were alive and it looked at a nearby copper kettle, it would see a black image. The iron pot believes it sees the image of the copper kettle when in reality, because the copper kettle was polished, what the iron pot was seeing was a reflection of itself. This symbolic phrase became associated with hypocrisy. An accuser blames someone else for having a fault when the accuser has the same fault.

Joe accuses Mark for not keeping his house clean when in reality, Joe has a messy house. Therefore, Joe is guilty of "the pot calling the kettle black".

Pot Calling the Kettle Black by Dancing with Fire June 24, 2011

pot calling the kettle black

This is a phrase that states that the person you are talking to is calling you something that they themselves are (and generally in abundance).

This comes from old times when pots and pans were generally black and kettles were generally metallic and reflective. Therefore the pot sees its black reflection in the kettle and thinks that the kettle is black.

*this can also sometimes be shortened to "pot, kettle, black."*

someguy: u R an idiot 4 sayin tht
Some other guy: Well thats the pot calling the kettle black!

pot calling the kettle black by The Spooky Twigg December 3, 2004

Pot calling the kettle black

An idiom or phrase used towards people calling out/criticizing other's behaviors or actions when those same people are equally guilty of doing/behaving.

Person 1: <yelling and screaming about stupid meaningless non-issues>
Person 2: Could you not? Seriously. Nobody wants to hear you yelling and screaming about stupid shit and stressing everybody else out around you.
Person 1: Stop being a snowflake!
Person 2: Pot calling the kettle black much? Typically, people who call others snowflakes tend to be the bigger snowflakes themselves at any given time and day.

Pot calling the kettle black by Xinny March 30, 2022

pot calling the kettle black

an idiom, in saying that something is, while the one saying it *is* that thing.

I ran into the conformist at SamGoody with an Eminem cd, whereas I had a Blondie cd. He said I was retarded because I was 'listening to shit.' I replied 'Well, talk about the pot calling the kettle black.'

pot calling the kettle black by Gwen Stefani Grrl June 30, 2004

pot calling the kettle black

A definition my teacher, Mr. Twichell used, to call Nick a hypocrite.

Yes, it's pretty much just calling someone a hypocrite.

Real conversation:
Nick: Shut up. You're so annoying.
Twichell: Nick, you're a pot calling the kettle black.
Me: RACIST.
Nick: What does that mean?
Twichell: No, Natalie it's not racist. Nick, it means you're a hypocrite.
Whole Class: OOOOHHHHHHH!

pot calling the kettle black by YoItsNat March 1, 2017

Pot Calling the Kettle Black

Something about racist weed or some shit, I don't know.

Pot: Hey, black kettle!
Pot-smoking bystander: Hey, man. Make peace not war, man.
Kettle: Well, if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black?
UrbanDictionary.com reader: WTF?!! THIS DEFINITION SUCKS BALLS!

Pot Calling the Kettle Black by SpaceMouse April 17, 2010

Pot calling the kettle black

Hipocricy

Zoned out daughter who has just unknowingly won the world record finishing a bowl of spaghetti-
hey dad, stop slurping.....
All round great dad- well....that's the 'Pot Calling The Kettle Black'

Pot calling the kettle black by Mine farter March 13, 2024