Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

little pitchers have big ears

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.39 in modern English

Syllables: lit-tle pitch-er-s have big ears
IPA

41

Scrabble Score

25

Letters

4

Syllables

13

Unique Chars

Meaning

proverb

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

Example Sentences

"Seeing me listening to something she was saying to Mamma, she turned round upon me with that odious proverb, "Little pitchers have long ears.""
"A caution to U. S. parents, but a joy to radio merchandising, is the dread truth that little pitchers have big ears."
"[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)."

Etymology

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

Phrases

pas devant les enfants

Frequently Paired Words

pas devant les enfants

Synonyms

little pitchers have long ears

Questions

What does little pitchers have big ears mean?: Small children often overhear more of what is said than adults realize or desire.
Where does little pitchers have big ears come from?: An allusion to the ear-shaped handles common on pitchers used for serving liquids.

How to pronounce little pitchers have big ears

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