ὁ Κρὴς τὸν πόντον ἀγνοεῖ → the Cretan knows nothing of the sea, feign ignorance

[spiros]

ὁ Κρὴς τὸν πόντον ἀγνοεῖ → feign ignorance (proverb).  Literally, "The Cretan knows nothing of the sea."  An ironic reference to those who pretend not to know something that they actually know very well, like the people of Crete (proverbial liars) who, living on an island, of course knew all there was to know about the sea.  Cf. Strabo 10.4.17.15-18 καὶ γὰρ ναυκρατεῖν πρότερον τοὺς Κρῆτας, ὥστε καὶ παροιμιάζεσθαι πρὸς τοὺς προσποιουμένους μὴ εἰδέναι ἃ ἴσασιν “ὁ Κρὴς ἀγνοεῖ τὴν θάλατταν”.

[billberg23]

It is only Bailly who claims that the phrase is equivalent to "the pot calling the kettle black" or "look who's talking" (C’est l’hôpital qui se moque de la charité).  Nowhere in ancient Greek literature can I find support for this claim.

[spiros]

Yes, that is where I took up the idea.