Little pitchers have big ears

Posted by ESC September 04, 2000In reply to Little pitchers have big ears posted by Cheryl on September 04, 2000

Has anyone heard the origin of the saying: "Little pitchers have big ears"??

LITTLE PITCHERS HAVE BIG EARS - "Children hear and understand more than you think they do. The play here is on the resemblance of the ear to the handle of a pitcher. It is an ancient saying, having been recorded by John Heywood in 1546: 'Auoyd your children, smal pitchers haue wide eares.'" From The Dictionary of Cliches by James Rogers (Ballantine Books, New York, 1985).