green behind the ears
Naive and untested
Green behind the ears describes someone who is inexperienced, naive, or immature—typically a newcomer to a job, field, or situation who hasn't yet learned how things work.
The phrase combines the freshness suggested by green with the vulnerability of exposed skin behind the ears, evoking a young animal still wet from birth.
He's still green behind the ears, so don't expect him to handle clients alone yet.
The more common variant is simply "green" or "wet behind the ears."
- inexperiencedLacking practical knowledge
- newbieInexperienced person, informally
- new kid on the blockInexperienced recent arrival
- naiveInnocently unsuspecting
- born yesterdayExtremely naive and credulous
novice · new to the game · neophyte · tenderfoot · tyro · amateur · greenhorn · fresh-faced · rookie · unseasoned · fledgling · apprentice · learner · beginner · immature · budding · probationer · trainee
green behind the earsseasoned
Flavored or battle-tested
experienced · worldly-wise · veteran · old hand · been around the block
green, greens, greener, greenest, greenish, greenery, greenly, ear, ears