ðoʊz huː lɪv ɪn ɡlæs ˈhaʊzɪz ˈʃʊdnt θroʊ stoʊnz
General
neutral
intermediate
- Literally:
- Glass houses are vulnerable to stone damage
What does "those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones" mean?
- People with faults shouldn't criticize others
- Don't criticize if you're guilty of the same thing
Examples
- He criticized her spending, but those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
- Remember, those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
- She shouldn't judge—those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Origin
From Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde (14th century). Glass houses are fragile—throwing stones invites retaliation.
How to use it
Warning against hypocrisy. Often shortened to 'people in glass houses...'
Similar expressions
don't be a hypocrite
practice what you preach
pot calling kettle black
Opposites
lead by example
have clean hands
Related idioms
- actions speak louder than words
What people do is more important than what they say
- better safe than sorry
It's better to be careful and prevent problems than to take risks
- so far so good
Things have gone well up to now
- easier said than done
Something is more difficult to do than to talk about
- make a long story short
To summarize or get to the point
- to make matters worse
In addition to existing problems
Use it in a practice answer
Try "those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.