Dictionary

familiarity breeds contempt en · X

Meanings

1. A prolonged closeness or exposure or a profound knowledge of someone or something often leads to diminished respect or appreciation.
   • [F]or Ayesha was certainly an exception to the rule. Familiarity with her might and did breed passion and wonder and horror, but it certainly did not breed contempt. 1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:
   • This was the beginning of evil, for if no man is a hero to his valet de chambre, much less can he remain a god for long in the eyes of a curious woman. Here, as in other matters, familiarity breeds contempt. 1894, H. Rider Haggard, chapter 25, in The People Of The Mist:
   • “For a person to read his own works over with any great delight, he ought first to forget that he ever wrote them. Familiarity naturally breeds contempt.” 1822, William Hazlitt, chapter 1, in Table-Talk:
   • “[S]uffer [your children] not to carry themselves unreverently or contemptuously towards you [parents]; but to keep their distance. For too much familiarity breedeth contempt, and imboldeneth to disobedience.” 1673, Richard Baxter, chapter X, in A Christian Directory, part II:

Relateds

a prophet is not without honor save in his own country

Synonyms

the more one learns about people, the more one likes one's pet

Translations (12)

ur گھر کی مرغی دال برابر (if you know someone very well, you stop respecting them) · vi bụt nhà không thiêng (if you know someone very well, you stop respecting them) · ml മുറ്റത്തെ മുല്ലയ്ക്ക് മണമില്ല (if you know someone very well, you stop respecting them) · pl przyzwyczajenie rodzi lekceważenie (if you know someone very well, you stop respecting them) · fi tuttua on helpompi inhota (if you know someone very well, you stop respecting them) · ga méadaíonn an taithí an tarcaisne (if you know someone very well, you stop respecting them) · th เล่นกับหมาหมาเลียปาก เล่นกับสากสากต่อยหัว (if you know someone very well, you stop respecting them) · it confidenza toglie riverenza (if you know someone very well, you stop respecting them) · gl a confianza dá noxo (if you know someone very well, you stop respecting them) · vi Chơi chó, chó liếm mặt; chơi gà, gà mổ mắt (if you know someone very well, you stop respecting them) · es donde hay confianza, da asco (if you know someone very well, you stop respecting them) · hi घर की मुर्ग़ी दाल बराबर (if you know someone very well, you stop respecting them)