listeners

eavesdroppers never hear any good of themselves

proverb If people are talking about one when one is absent, they probably aren't saying nice things. They may be talking about you, but I don't think you should hover at the door like that—remember, eavesdroppers never hear any good of themselves. Would you get away from that door? I'm warning you, eavesdroppers never hear any good of themselves. Want to know why eavesdroppers never hear any good of themselves? Because if people have something nice to say, they'll say it to your face!

See also: any, good, hear, never, of, themselves

listeners never hear any good of themselves

proverb If people are talking about one when one is absent, they probably aren't saying nice things. They may be talking about you, but I don't think you should hover at the door like that—remember, listeners never hear any good of themselves.

See also: any, good, hear, listeners, never, of, themselves

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

Eavesdroppers never hear any good of themselves,

 and Listeners never hear any good of themselves.

Prov. If you eavesdrop on people who are talking about you, chances are that you will hear them say unfavorable things about you. (This implies that you should not eavesdrop.) Child: Mommy, I heard Suzy and Lisa talking about me, and they said I was a crybaby! Mother: That just goes to show you, dear, that eavesdroppers never hear any good of themselves. I knew that Mother and Dad had gone into the other room to discuss my situation, and I was tempted to put my ear to the door and listen to them, but I remembered that listeners never hear any good of themselves.

See also: any, good, hear, never, of, themselves

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.