Pop Quiz - what does the phrase: "the pot calling the kettle black" mean?

Question

Please DO NOT rate anyone on this - your thumbs up or thumbs down will be your grade and, therefore, done by me. Anyone who can also tell me the origin of this saying will win for Best Answer.

Actually, Magpie and Sue were both the closest, not only with the meaning, but also with the explanation. It dates from much farther back than the 1800's, even before 1492, when the cooking pots and the fireplace kettles were made of the same black, non-reflective iron that most heavy-duty skillets are still made from today, and it's a way of calling someone a hypocrite.

Actually, Magpie and Sue were both the closest, not only with the meaning, but also with the explanation. It dates from much farther back than the 1800's, even before 1492, when the cooking pots and the fireplace kettles were made of the same black, non-reflective iron that most heavy-duty skillets are still made from today, and it's a way of calling someone a hypocrite.

I'm putting this to a vote.

Answer 1

In the old days, 1800's many kitchen appliances were made out of iron, pots pans and kettles, so the pot was black, so calling the kettle black means, the pot is black and it is calling the kettle black, it means you're accusing someone of being what you are

Answer 2

Meaning: Someone who faults another for faults conspicuously his own. Example: You think police should stop all those other terrible drivers? That's like the pot calling the kettle black! Origin: This expression dates back to the 17th Century. In ancient times, pots as well as kettles would likely be blackened over the open cooking fires of the day. Alternative: "The pot calling the kettle black: Said of someone accusing another of faults similar to those committed by the accuser. The allusion is to the old household in which the copper kettle would be kept polished, while the iron pot would remain black. The kettle's bright side would reflect the pot. The pot, seeing its reflection, would thus see black, which would appear to be on the side of the kettle. The pot could then accuse the kettle of a fault it did not have." Source: Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, 1870, revised by Adrian Room (Millennium Edition) Thanks to Jan Heirtzler.

Answer 3

"The 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.

Answer 4

it means that what one person says to the other person is saying the same thing about both of the people in the argument or dispute.

Like my dad and I are Overweight. i call him fat and he says to me: "Well, that's the pot calling te kettle black."

get it?

Answer 5

I have no idea of the origin ( though the metaphor is easy to see) but it means basically that you accuse someone of doing something wrong that you consistently do wrong yourself.

Answer 6

It is a metaphor meaning that you can't judge someone when you do the same or worse.

Answer 7

Tu quoque

Answer 8

example.........a nazi calling someone a fascist pig
a murderer saying that you deserve to burn in hell for your sins
origin unknown

Answer 9

it means the pot is a racist

Answer 10

It means to be hypocritical.....