little pitchers have long ears
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Little folk or children hear what is said when you little think it. The ear of a pitcher is the handle, made somewhat in the shape of a man's ear.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “little pitchers have long ears” mean?
Little folk or children hear what is said when you little think it. The ear of a pitcher is the handle, made somewhat in the shape of a man's ear.
Is “little pitchers have long ears” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.