Top definition
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".
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".
by Dancing with Fire June 24, 2011
Jul 15 Word of the Day
The safeguarding of Earth and other worlds from biological cross-contamination (i.e. billionaires with too much time on their hands).
Also known as “planetary protection.” Planetary protection / quarantine “reflects both the unknown nature of the space environment and the desire of the scientific community to preserve the pristine nature of celestial bodies until they can be studied in detail.”
There are two types of interplanetary contamination. Forward contamination is the transfer of viable organisms from Earth to another celestial body. Back contamination is the transfer of extraterrestrial organisms, if such exist, back to the Earth's biosphere.
Also known as “planetary protection.” Planetary protection / quarantine “reflects both the unknown nature of the space environment and the desire of the scientific community to preserve the pristine nature of celestial bodies until they can be studied in detail.”
There are two types of interplanetary contamination. Forward contamination is the transfer of viable organisms from Earth to another celestial body. Back contamination is the transfer of extraterrestrial organisms, if such exist, back to the Earth's biosphere.
Billionaires are having a dick swinging space race while the earth experiences record breaking heatwaves that cause sea creatures to literally cook inside their shells. We need planetary quarantine.
by monkeylabor July 14, 2021
2
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."*
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."*
by The Spooky Twigg December 03, 2004
3
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.'
by Gwen Stefani Grrl June 30, 2004
4
A definition my teacher, Mr. Twichell used, to call Nick a hypocrite.
Yes, it's pretty much just calling someone 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!
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!
by YoItsNat March 01, 2017
5
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-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!
by SpaceMouse April 16, 2010