Complaining about hypocrisy
Sometimes some people criticize another person for doing something that they are also guilty of.
Here are some phrases you can use to call them out.
Ten ways to call out hypocrisy
casual · neutral · formal
- Look who's talking!casualstrong"You're always late." "Look who's talking! You came at ten."
- You can talk!casualstrong"You spend too much on clothes." "You can talk! Look at your shoes."
- That's rich, coming from you!casualstrongYou say I'm lazy? That's rich, coming from you!
- That's the pot calling the kettle black.casualHe calls her noisy? That's the pot calling the kettle black.
- I seem to remember, not so long ago...neutralI seem to remember, not so long ago, you missed the same meeting.
- Yeah, and you're so much bettercasual"You never help at home." "Yeah, and you're so much better."
- And you're so squeaky clean.casualYou tell me not to lie? And you're so squeaky clean.
- Take a look in the mirror sometime.casualYou think I'm rude? Take a look in the mirror sometime.
- People in glass houses...neutralDon't laugh at my mistakes. People in glass houses...
- Says Mr. Perfect.casual"Your room is so messy." "Says Mr. Perfect."
How to use them
- We use to react (quite suddenly) when somebody says something hypocritical.
- is an old idiom. It refers to the time when people heated metal pots and kettles over a fire and they soon became black with soot from the fire.
- We follow with a description of the time in the past when the other speaker did something that they are now criticizing.
- are quite sarcastic. Use with care.
- is the first part of an old idiom. The complete form is "People in glasshouses shouldn't throw stones".
Quick check
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"That's the pot calling the kettle black" means:
Which phrase is the gentlest way to point out hypocrisy?
"People in glass houses..." is the start of a saying. What is the full idea?
See also: Showing anger
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