Phrase guide

little pitchers have big ears

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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1

proverb

Meaning 1

Small children often overhear more of what is said than adults realize or desire.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

An allusion to the ear-shaped handles common on pitchers used for serving liquids.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: små gryder har også ører — proverb
  • Finnish: pienilläkin padoilla on korvat — proverb
  • Spanish: hay orejas chiquitas — proverb
  • Swedish: små grytor har också öron — proverb
  • Welsh: mae gan foch bach glustiau (mawr) — proverb
  • Welsh: mae clustiau gan foch bach (mawr) — proverb