Don't try to teach your Grandma to suck eggs

Definitions

Advise against giving someone advice on a topic they are already knowledgeable about
Indicates that the person being advised is already an expert or has extensive experience in the subject matter, and therefore does not need any additional instruction or guidance

Examples of Don't try to teach your Grandma to suck eggs

Jack's wife, despite having lived a long and enriching life, still couldn't seem to grasp the concept of handled food delivery services. Jack often jokingly told his friends, "I'm not going to try and teach my wife to use UberEats, she'd rather spend hours cooking and cleaning the kitchen."

In this example, the idiom "Don't try to teach your grandmother how to suck eggs" is used figuratively to mean that one shouldn't try to teach someone, in this case Jack's wife, something very basic or obvious, as she's already an expert in the particular skill (in this case cooking and housekeeping). The phrase "suck eggs" implies ease and simplicity, and the statement gently suggests that there's no point in trying to teach someone something they already know instinctively.
Paul had been working in sales for over a decade, and when his new colleague, with no prior experience, suggested a new sales strategy, Paul couldn't help but reply, "I'm not going to teach my grandmother to suck eggs here. My approach seems to be working fine, and I'd rather stick with it."

In this example, the idiom is being used to indicate that the speaker already knows what is being suggested, and that the suggestion is, in their opinion, completely unnecessary. The phrase "suck eggs" here means that the new colleague is suggesting something incredibly basic or obvious, and the speaker feels that it's pointless wasting time and energy on it.
Mrs. Brown, an accomplished sewing instructor, couldn't avoid rolling her eyes as her son, a successful businessman, suggested that she could start an e-commerce store to sell home-made scarves online. "I don't need your help teaching me how to run an e-commerce store, young man," she scoffed. "I'm not going to teach my grandmother how to suck eggs here, thank you very much."

In this example, the idiom is being used to convey the speaker's frustration and annoyance at being underestimated. The fact that her son thinks she needs help with such a simple matter implies to Mrs. Brown that she's being seen as less capable than she actually is. Using the idiom in this context therefore has a dual meaning, suggesting both that her son's suggestion is unnecessary, and that she finds it terribly condescending.
You can't tell an experienced athlete how to play their sport. Just as we say "Don't try to teach your Grandma to suck eggs," it's pointless to instruct somebody who's already been successful.

This use of "Don't try to teach your Grandma to suck eggs" indicates that some people reach a level of proficiency that is hard to surpass, and therefore, a person with that level of expertise should not be taught by an amateur.
We shouldn't try to educate our grandmothers on the merits of Wi-Fi routers, as the concept can be challenging to understand for them. Just as the expression "Don't try to teach your Grandma to suck eggs" is used, cautioning us to stay away from tutoring our Grandma's on issues that are beyond her understanding, it's also advisable to prevent ourselves from explaining complex technology concepts to them.

This use of "Don't try to teach your Grandma to suck eggs" emphasizes the fact that some concepts can be difficult for certain individuals to comprehend and hence, it's better to keep quiet instead of trying to explain it to them.
It's futile to explain basic cooking techniques to a seasoned chef, as they're already well-versed in the art. We should follow the advice, "Don't try to teach your Grandma to suck eggs," to avoid instructing veterans who have already achieved expertise in their field.

This use of "Don't try to teach your Grandma to suck eggs" focuses on the fact that some people have a certain level of knowledge and experience in a particular domain, making it unnecessary and pointless to teach them basic concepts in the same area.
It's impractical to demonstrate writing skills to a professional writer, as they are already highly skilled in the craft. We're advised to avoid teaching our grandmothers how to suck eggs by applying the same logic to instructing experts in their domains.

This use of "Don't try to teach your Grandma to suck eggs" indicates that it's unnecessary to instruct people who already possess expertise in a particular domain since they're already proficient in that area.

Conclusion

This idiom is commonly used in a humorous or sarcastic manner to dismiss someone's attempt to offer advice or teach a skill to someone who is already proficient in it. It can also be used to emphasize the futility of trying to educate someone who is set in their ways or resistant to learning something new.

Origin of "Don't try to teach your Grandma to suck eggs"

The origin of this idiom can be traced back to 1707 in a book titled "A Collection of English Proverbs" by John Ray. The original version of the idiom was "You need not teach your grandmother to suck eggs," which was later shortened to its current form. The phrase "sucking eggs" was a common activity in rural areas, where people would teach young children how to suck the contents out of an egg through a small hole, thus saving the shell for use as a decoration or for other purposes.

The idiom is believed to have originated from the idea that grandmothers, who are typically older and wiser, would already know how to do this task and would not need to be taught. It was also used as a way to dismiss someone's opinion or advice, as grandmothers are often seen as knowledgeable and experienced individuals. Over time, the idiom evolved to its current usage, which is more focused on not giving unnecessary advice or instruction to someone who already knows what they are doing.