teach (one's) grandmother (how) to suck eggs

teach (one's) grandmother (how) to suck eggs

To try to teach an older person who is wiser, more experienced, and more worldly than a young person may think. Why are you explaining basic typing to Ethel? Sure, she's 70, but she's been using a computer since before you were born—quit teaching your grandmother to suck eggs! These young hotshots come in and try to prove they know the ropes better than we do, like they're teaching their grandmothers how to suck eggs.

See also: egg, grandmother, suck, teach

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

teach one's grandmother to suck eggs

Fig. to try to tell or show someone more knowledgeable or experienced than oneself how to do something. Don't suggest showing Mary how to knit. It will be like teaching your grandmother to suck eggs. Don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs. Bob has been playing tennis for years.

See also: egg, grandmother, suck, teach

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

teach your grandmother to suck eggs

BRITISH

If you teach your grandmother to suck eggs, you give advice about a subject to someone who knows more about it than you do. Look, I don't want to teach my grandmother to suck eggs, but haven't you done this the wrong way round? Note: You can also say that you teach your granny to suck eggs. At the risk of teaching my granny to suck eggs, wouldn't it be better to use this pan?

See also: egg, grandmother, suck, teach

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

teach your grandmother to suck eggs

presume to advise a more experienced person.

The proverb you can't teach your grandmother to suck eggs has been used since the early 18th century as a caution against any attempt by the ignorant or inexperienced to instruct someone wiser or more knowledgeable.

See also: egg, grandmother, suck, teach

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

teach your grandmother to suck ˈeggs

(British English, informal) tell or show somebody how to do something that they can already do well, and probably better than you can: I don’t know why he’s telling Rob how to use the computer. It seems to me like teaching your grandmother to suck eggs.

See also: egg, grandmother, suck, teach

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017