# little pitcher

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/little-pitcher
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A child.

## Examples

- Be careful what you say, as little pitchers have big ears.
- That little pitcher understands much more than you think.
- Don't swear while that little pitcher is playing nearby.
- We should change the subject because there is a little pitcher in the room.
- I realized the little pitcher was paying attention when he started repeating my complaints about the neighbors during dinner.
- Wait until the little pitcher goes to sleep before you finish telling me that secret story about your boss.
- The adults lowered their voices to a whisper, mindful that a little pitcher was listening intently from the corner of the parlor.

## Origin

Derived from the proverb little pitchers have big ears, the term appears in English by the mid-16th century. The comparison rests upon the physical resemblance between a vessel's handle and the human ear, noting that both are prominent and perpetually open to reception. The image suggests that a child, despite a modest capacity for understanding, may possess an inconveniently large capacity for overhearing.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.