you can't pour from an empty cup
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
In order to be able to provide other people with emotional support, one must take care of one's own mental health.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
This view is shared widely across the industry, including by London-based yoga teacher Kat Achtelik, who participated in several NGO-led projects in Asia before moving to the UK. For her, practicing yoga and meditation comes down to self-love: “You cannot pour from an empty cup. You have to take car
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 “you can't pour from an empty cup” mean?
In order to be able to provide other people with emotional support, one must take care of one's own mental health.
Is “you can't pour from an empty cup” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.