don't try to teach grandma how to suck eggs

proverb

Don't presume to give advice to those who are more experienced.

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Meanings

proverb
  1. Don't presume to give advice to those who are more experienced.

Origin

From a 1707 translation by John Stevens of comical works of Francisco de Quevedo (1580 – 1645). "You would have me teach my Grandame to suck Eggs"

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek γέρων ἀλώπηξ οὐχ ἁλίσκεται πάγη
  • γέρων ἀλώπηξ οὐχ ἁλίσκεται πάγη (gérōn alṓpēx oukh halísketai págē)don't teach an expert
Chinese Mandarin 不要班門弄斧 /不要班门弄斧
  • 不要班門弄斧 /不要班门弄斧 (bùyào bānménnòngfǔ)don't teach an expert
Czech neuč orla létat
  • neuč orla létatdon't teach an expert
Esperanto al la fiŝo ne instruu naĝarton
  • al la fiŝo ne instruu naĝartondon't teach an expert
Finnish älä opeta isääsi naimaan, älä opeta isääsi kusemaan
  • älä opeta isääsi naimaandon't teach an expert
  • älä opeta isääsi kusemaandon't teach an expert
French on n'apprend pas à un vieux singe à faire la grimace, ce n’est pas à un vieux singe qu’on apprend à faire des grimaces
  • on n'apprend pas à un vieux singe à faire la grimacedon't teach an expert
  • ce n’est pas à un vieux singe qu’on apprend à faire des grimacesdon't teach an expert
Japanese 釈迦に説法
  • 釈迦に説法don't teach an expert
Polish nie ucz ojca dzieci robić
  • nie ucz ojca dzieci robićdon't teach an expert
Russian я́йца ку́рицу не у́чат, не учи́ учёного
  • я́йца ку́рицу не у́чат (jájca kúricu ne účat)don't teach an expert
  • не учи́ учёного (ne učí učónovo)don't teach an expert
  • не учи́ пла́вать щу́ку, щу́ка зна́ет свою́ нау́ку (ne učí plávatʹ ščúku, ščúka znájet svojú naúku)don't teach an expert
  • не учи́ учёного, съешь говна́ печёного (ne učí učónovo, sʺješʹ govná pečónovo)don't teach an expert
  • не учи́ отца́ еба́ться (ne učí otcá jebátʹsja)don't teach an expert
Scottish Gaelic na ionnsaich do sheanmhair lit' a dhèanamh
  • na ionnsaich do sheanmhair lit' a dhèanamhdon't teach an expert
Spanish no intentes dar clases a tu maestro
  • no intentes dar clases a tu maestrodon't teach an expert
Cite this entry
APA

don't try to teach grandma how to suck eggs. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/don't%20try%20to%20teach%20grandma%20how%20to%20suck%20eggs

MLA

“don't try to teach grandma how to suck eggs.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/don't%20try%20to%20teach%20grandma%20how%20to%20suck%20eggs. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “don't try to teach grandma how to suck eggs,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/don't%20try%20to%20teach%20grandma%20how%20to%20suck%20eggs.

Source: don't try to teach grandma how to suck eggs on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.