little pitchers have big ears en · X
Etymology
An allusion to the ear-shaped handles common on pitchers used for serving liquids.
Meanings
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Small children often overhear more of what is said than adults realize or desire.
A caution to U. S. parents, but a joy to radio merchandising, is the dread truth that little pitchers have big ears.
1939 April 17, “Bedtime Bedlam”, in Time:[N]o kid ever ran to his mother and said that his little sister just defecated in the tub. I suppose he might say pushed or went woowoo, but took a shit is, I fear, very much in the ballpark (little pitchers have big ears, after all).
2000, Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, →ISBN, page 185:Seeing me listening to something she was saying to Mamma, she turned round upon me with that odious proverb, "Little pitchers have long ears."
1844, Charlotte M. Yonge, chapter 2, in Abbeychurch:
Relateds
Synonyms
little pitchers have long ears
Translations (6)
cy mae clustiau gan foch bach (mawr) (proverb) · cy mae gan foch bach glustiau (mawr) (proverb) · fi pienilläkin padoilla on korvat (proverb) · es hay orejas chiquitas (proverb) · da små gryder har også ører (proverb) · sv små grytor har också öron (proverb)