Phrase guide

knee-high by the Fourth of July

proverb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌniːˈhaɪ baɪ ðə ˌfɔːθ‿əv d͡ʒʊˈlaɪ/
  • General-American: /ˌniˈhaɪ baɪ ðə ˌfɔɹθ‿əv d͡ʒəˈlaɪ/
  • General-American: /-d͡ʒu-/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -aɪ

1

proverb

Meaning 1

If a corn (maize) crop planted in spring has grown knee-high by the Fourth of July (Independence Day of the United States), a bountiful harvest is expected.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US

Topics: agriculture, business, lifestyle

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

The terms knee-high and Fourth of July were probably chosen because they rhyme with each other.