A long time ago, there was a man who was walking by a house, and saw that there was a bell hanging above the door of the house. He wanted to steal the bell, but realized that if he touched it, the bell would ring. The bell was also too heavy to carry by himself. He thought that if he smashed the bell to pieces, he could carry it away.
However, he knew that if he smashed it, the bell would make a loud noise and attract attention. He reasoned that if he covered his ears, nobody would be able to hear the bell ring. He covered his ears, but as soon as he touched the bell, it rang and he was caught.
This idiom refers to people who believe they are clever, but in fact are only tricking themselves.
Read more about the idiom here.
However, he knew that if he smashed it, the bell would make a loud noise and attract attention. He reasoned that if he covered his ears, nobody would be able to hear the bell ring. He covered his ears, but as soon as he touched the bell, it rang and he was caught.
This idiom refers to people who believe they are clever, but in fact are only tricking themselves.
Read more about the idiom here.