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the pot calling the kettle black 

a situation in which one person criticizes another for a fault they have themselves
Ernie accused me of being selfish. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

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

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!

The pot calling the kettle black 

If someone says this, it simply points out hypocrisy.
You’re saying I’m annoying? That’s like the pot calling the kettle black!

Pot Calling Kettle Black

This is an idiom with Spanish origin that states that the person you are talking to is calling you something that they themselves are equally as guilty of doing... Thus an example of psychological projection.

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.
Sydney: you always cheat in any card game we play; all you care about is winning
John: Pot Calling Kettle Black!

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.
More from Urban Dictionary

briefcake 

"Did you check out the briefcake in courtroom C?"
briefcake by Ben Frey April 6, 2006
Word of the Day on November 3, 2026
Brought to public attention by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in the book on the fall of Richard Nixon, All The President’s Men, ratfucker was Nixon’s term for a political operative who sows chaos among opponents; an agent provocateur. It is thought to have originated among campus political rivalries at USC, and seems to have some usage in the US military.
Along with Nixon’s other ratfuckers, Roger Stone caused fights at otherwise peaceful Democratic Party protests to generate a false narrative that the Democrats were violent and dangerous.
Ratfucker by Ricky Ramjet November 2, 2017
Word of the Day on November 2, 2026

countrypolitan 

Term used to describe someone who is a mix of both rural (country) and urban (metropolitan) lifestyles/upbringings. He/she is typically equally comfortable in both settings and is able to seamlessly slip back and forth between the two, appreciating the characteristics of each.
That ol' gal of mine drives the 12 lane freeway during the week and a John Deere on the weekends. She likes opra and the Grand Ol' Opry. I love them countrypolitan women.
countrypolitan by MOChick November 7, 2006
Word of the Day on November 1, 2026

Witch Bath 

A bath consisting of a variety of slats, oils, soaps or any other added ingredients such as fruits, milks, herbs or any other spices for health or beautifying benifits.
She brought home alot of stuff and took it to the bathroom. She must be taking a witch bath.
Witch Bath by carnieboy30 October 26, 2020
Word of the Day on October 31, 2026

kinktober 

An excuse for people to write porn with different types of kinks throughout the month of October.

Smut Fanfiction
That chick doesn't write often but when she does, its for Kinktober.
kinktober by Kinkiest July 12, 2018
Word of the Day on October 30, 2026

proper lad 

a lad that is such a lad that he is a proper lad
person1:did you see bob
person2: ya he was a proper lad
Word of the Day on October 29, 2026
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