Teach your grandmother to suck eggs
phrase
To advise or demonstrate to someone on a subject that they already know well.
My son was trying to explain how to use the smartphone, but that felt like he was trying to teach his grandmother to suck eggs.
Often appears as...
- don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs
- trying to teach your grandmother to suck eggs
Usage tips
Informal
Idiomatic
phrase
To advise or demonstrate to someone on a subject that they already know well.
My son was trying to explain how to use the smartphone, but that felt like he was trying to teach his grandmother to suck eggs.
Often appears as...
- don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs
- trying to teach your grandmother to suck eggs
Usage tips
Informal
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Older Expertise
Use when someone older or more experienced is told something they already know.
Explaining the tax system to Aunt Mary, a retired accountant, was like teaching your grandmother to suck eggs.
Pro Tip 2/3Potential Offense
It might offend if implying someone's advice is unnecessary.
When I corrected his email etiquette, he snapped back, 'Don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs!'
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Humor
This phrase can be humorous, especially when self-applied, mocking one's own overconfidence.
I tried lecturing about classic cars until I realized I was teaching my grandmother to suck eggs.
Pro Tip 1/3Older Expertise
Use when someone older or more experienced is told something they already know.
Explaining the tax system to Aunt Mary, a retired accountant, was like teaching your grandmother to suck eggs.
Pro Tip 2/3Potential Offense
It might offend if implying someone's advice is unnecessary.
When I corrected his email etiquette, he snapped back, 'Don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs!'
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Humor
This phrase can be humorous, especially when self-applied, mocking one's own overconfidence.
I tried lecturing about classic cars until I realized I was teaching my grandmother to suck eggs.
Pro Tip 1/3Older Expertise
Use when someone older or more experienced is told something they already know.
Explaining the tax system to Aunt Mary, a retired accountant, was like teaching your grandmother to suck eggs.
Pro Tip 2/3Potential Offense
It might offend if implying someone's advice is unnecessary.
When I corrected his email etiquette, he snapped back, 'Don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs!'
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Humor
This phrase can be humorous, especially when self-applied, mocking one's own overconfidence.
I tried lecturing about classic cars until I realized I was teaching my grandmother to suck eggs.
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