the pot calling the kettle black
the pot calling the kettle black by [katie] November 12, 2006
Urban Dictionary Merch
Your favorite words on things you can wear, drink from, read, or give to a friend.
The Urban Dictionary Store sells gifts you’ll have to explain.
The pot calling the kettle black
The pot calling the kettle black by Man Of Few Words April 11, 2021
the pot calling the kettle black
A older term used in the US south to discriminate against people of color. Also it can be used to criticize or bring down a person of color. People who use it are racist.
the pot calling the kettle black by Henry Louis Gates Jr. May 29, 2018
The Pot Calling the Kettle Black
The Pot Calling the Kettle Black by IDK ME I Guess October 6, 2021
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".
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."*
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."*
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.
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
More from Urban Dictionary
pod person
A person pretending to be something they aren't, or an impostor. This is inferred because of the old alien movies where alien pods appear on earth and the "pod people" dispose of the humans and slowly reproduce the bodies, pretending to be humans.
The pod person was pretending to be my father, but I knew that he was an alien when he acted differently than my father ever would have.
pod person by Christopher M. May 9, 2005
Word of the Day on November 10, 2026
dead drop
A dead drop is a location used to secretly pass items between two people, without requiring them to meet.
Spies have been known to use dead drops, using various techniques to hide the items and to signal that the drop has been made. Drug dealers use this as well.
A common place is to duct tape the item to the underside of a toilet cover in a public restroom.
A signal is sometimes used as well to indicate there is something to pickup, like a pile of stones in a certain formation. After checking the drop the signal is removed.
Spies have been known to use dead drops, using various techniques to hide the items and to signal that the drop has been made. Drug dealers use this as well.
A common place is to duct tape the item to the underside of a toilet cover in a public restroom.
A signal is sometimes used as well to indicate there is something to pickup, like a pile of stones in a certain formation. After checking the drop the signal is removed.
"The dead drop is the restroom toilet at the Gulf station at the corner of Commercial Ave. and Georges Rd."
dead drop by rubberroom July 23, 2008
Word of the Day on November 9, 2026
No Surprises Wedding
A "No Surprises Wedding," or NSW, is a wedding invitation designation that tells attendees that there can be no unplanned announcements, engagements, events or speeches at the wedding - all actions must be pre-approved by the couple. Anyone who performs an unapproved "surprise" will be asked to leave the wedding early.
This designation comes from Reddit, where so many stories of bad wedding behavior indicated a need to communicate expectations for the wedding behavior of attendees.
This designation comes from Reddit, where so many stories of bad wedding behavior indicated a need to communicate expectations for the wedding behavior of attendees.
You are cordially invited to the nuptials of Brian and Tom on October 31 at noon.
Please note that this wedding is child-free (under 10) and a No Surprises Wedding (NSW). Reach out to wedding planner Sami Smith to request approvals or exceptions; please note that exceptions will be rare. Limited child care for under-10s will be available. All approvals will be noted and included in planning. Unapproved, or surprise exceptions, will result in guests being asked to leave.
Please note that this wedding is child-free (under 10) and a No Surprises Wedding (NSW). Reach out to wedding planner Sami Smith to request approvals or exceptions; please note that exceptions will be rare. Limited child care for under-10s will be available. All approvals will be noted and included in planning. Unapproved, or surprise exceptions, will result in guests being asked to leave.
No Surprises Wedding by dbdefenestrate August 27, 2023
Word of the Day on November 8, 2026