not dry behind the ears
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
As innocent as a new-born child. When young animals are born, the last place to become dry after birth is the small depression behind each 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 “not dry behind the ears” mean?
As innocent as a new-born child. When young animals are born, the last place to become dry after birth is the small depression behind each ear.
Is “not dry behind the ears” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.