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). http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/5/messages/1438.html Young children often overhear something they should not. For example, Don't use any swear words around Brian--little pitchers have big ears. This metaphoric expression, which likens the curved handle of a pitcher to the human ear, was already in John Heywood's proverb collection of 1546. http://www.answers.com/Little%20pitchers%20have%20big%20ears http://www.enotes.com/famous-quotes/little-pitchers-have-big-ears Adults must be careful about what they say within the hearing of children. The saying refers to the large handles (ears) sometimes attached to small vessels. Little pitchers have big ears, Don't stop to count the years, Sam Stone was alone When he popped his last balloon, Climbing walls while sitting in a chair. Well, he played his last request, While the room smelled just like death, With an overdose hovering in the air. But life had lost it's fun, There was nothing to be done, Little pitchers have big ears, Don't stop to count the years...