proverb · Words worth keeping
Little pitchers have long ears.
Little pitchers have long ears.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Children may hear and understand more of an adult conversation than the speakers expect. The small-pitcher image reminds adults to take care with sensitive talk, without treating children as intruders or denying their right to ask questions.
Example
At a family gathering, an adult postpones discussing another person’s private dispute and answers a child’s question about the tense atmosphere in simple, respectful terms.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The small pitcher is given long ears, combining small size with a surprising capacity to hear. Its figurative target is an adult assumption that a child nearby is not attending to the conversation. The warning can concern private information, an upsetting remark or language that needs explanation. It does not mean that every child interprets a conversation in the same way, or that adults should never speak openly about difficult subjects. Care may require a suitable explanation rather than silence. The useful response notices who is present, protects other people’s privacy and makes room for an age-appropriate question instead of dismissing the listener.
When to use it
Use it when adults may be overlooking a child’s attention to sensitive conversation.
Keep in mind
Careful speech should not become exclusion, needless secrecy or dismissal of children’s questions.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown
- Culture
- English