knee-high by the Fourth of July

English

WOTD – 4 July 2025

Etymology

The terms knee-high and Fourth of July were probably chosen because they rhyme with each other.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌniːˈhaɪ baɪ ðə ˌfɔːθ‿əv d͡ʒʊˈlaɪ/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˌniˈhaɪ baɪ ðə ˌfɔɹθ‿əv d͡ʒəˈlaɪ/, /-d͡ʒu-/
  • Audio (General American):(file)
    (file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪ

Proverb

knee-high by the Fourth of July

  1. (US, agriculture) If a corn (maize) crop planted in spring has grown knee-high by the Fourth of July (Independence Day of the United States), a bountiful harvest is expected.

Translations

Further reading