never ask the barber if you need a haircut
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Do not seek advice from a biased party.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
You never ask the barber if you need a haircut. What do you think he will say? So corn farmers tell Congress that ethanol is good and will help stop the greenhouse effect and make cars run smoother and we will all be in energy heaven if we listen to them.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “never ask the barber if you need a haircut” mean?
Do not seek advice from a biased party.
Is “never ask the barber if you need a haircut” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.