The Pot Calling the Kettle Black

The pot calling the kettle black is a Southernish saying meaning someone’s accusing another of a fault they share themselves. An old English proverb that settled easily into Southern talk.

#Southernish

synonyms: hypocrisy, double standard, talkin’ out both sides of your mouth

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Often heard as 'ain’t that the pot callin’ the kettle black?' around here. But I've heard this one in TV shows.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Often heard as 'ain’t that the pot callin’ the kettle black?' around here. But I've heard this one in TV shows.

Pronunciation

[thuh POT callin’ thuh KET-ul BLAK]
/ðə pɑt ˈkɔlɪn ðə ˈkɛtəl blæk/

Meaning & Usage

- Calling out hypocrisy (proverb)

Shirley:

He said you talk too much.

Martha:

Ha! That’s the pot callin’ the kettle black.

variations: that’s the pot calling the kettle black, pot meet kettle

Origin

This proverb began in early 17th-century Spain and entered English shortly after, describing two soot-blackened cooking pots accusing each other of being dirty. It became a favorite moral saying in English homes and later spread to America. With cast iron cookware common in the South, the phrase took on a familiar ring in Southern kitchens and speech.

Verdict: Southernish. An old shared proverb that sounds perfectly Southern but has much older European roots.

Notes

Used to call out hypocrisy in a folksy, good-natured way.
Common across English-speaking countries, especially in domestic and rural talk.
Still heard widely in the South, often shortened to "pot meet kettle."
Sometimes used sarcastically or playfully among family or friends.

Common Questions

What does "the pot calling the kettle black" mean?

It means someone is criticizing another for something they’re guilty of too.

Is it a Southern saying?

Not originally-it’s a centuries-old English proverb adopted into Southern speech.

Where did it come from?

From old iron cookware, both blackened by soot, each accusing the other of being dirty.

Do people still use it?

Yes-worldwide. It’s a classic expression of hypocrisy, still used in homes, media, and politics.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 20). The Pot Calling the Kettle Black. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/pot-calling-the-kettle-black
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "The Pot Calling the Kettle Black." HillbillySlang.com, 20 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/pot-calling-the-kettle-black.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "The Pot Calling the Kettle Black." HillbillySlang.com. October 20, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/pot-calling-the-kettle-black.

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