silk

(as) smooth as silk

Very smooth and soft, with no imperfections. Have you tried this chocolate mousse? It has an incredible flavor and is smooth as silk. I love how your face feels after you shave—it's as smooth as silk!
See also: silk, smooth

(as) soft as silk

Exceptionally soft and smooth. I love how your face feels after you shave—it's as soft as silk! This is my favorite blanket to get snuggled up in at night. It's soft as silk, and it keeps me nice and warm in bed.
See also: silk, soft

black-silk barge

slang A fat woman. Primarily heard in UK. I hate to say that Jenny's a black-silk barge, but she's gained so much weight that I barely recognize her.
See also: barge

can't make a silk purse (out) of a sow's ear

proverb You cannot fashion something beautiful or valuable out of poor materials. What do you want me to do with this tacky fabric? You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear!
See also: ear, make, of, purse, silk

hit the silk

To jump out of an aircraft. The phrase refers to a skydiver's parachute. A lot of people think skydiving is nerve-wracking, but when I hit the silk, I'm completely calm.
See also: hit, silk

laid to the bone

old-fashioned Completely nude; wearing no clothes at all. Everyone in the group was laid to the bone racing into the water, but we felt absolutely no inhibition around each other.
See also: bone, laid

make a silk purse (out) of a sow's ear

To fashion something beautiful or valuable out of poor materials. Often used in the negative, such as "cannot make a silk purse of a sow's ear." What do you want me to do with this tacky dress? I can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear!
See also: ear, make, of, purse, silk

silked to the bone

old-fashioned Completely nude; wearing no clothes at all. Everyone in the group was silked to the bone as we raced into the water, but we felt absolutely no inhibition around each other.
See also: bone, silk

silks

slang Clothing. It looked as though he were wearing brand-new silks for the occasion, but it may simply be the case that he actually washed them for a change.
See also: silk

silk-stocking district

A section of a city that is dominated by the upper-class. Even if you had the money, you wouldn't want to live in a silk-stocking district—you'd be totally subject to the whims of your wealthy neighbors.
See also: district

take silk

To be appointed a Queen's Counsel (QC) or King's Counsel (KC), the highest-ranking position of a senior barrister in the British law system. Primarily heard in UK. Since taking silk, the honourable Thomas Jeffries, QC, has served the public and the crown most admirably.
See also: silk, take

you can't make a silk purse (out) of a sow's ear

proverb You cannot fashion something beautiful or valuable out of poor materials. What do you want me to do with this tacky fabric? You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear!
See also: ear, make, of, purse, silk
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*smooth as glass

 and *smooth as silk
Cliché smooth and shiny. (often used to describe calm bodies of water. *Also: as ~.) The bay is as smooth as glass, so we should have a pleasant boat trip. This custard is smooth as silk.
See also: glass, smooth

*soft as a baby's bottom

 and soft as a baby's backside; *soft as down; *soft as silk; *soft as velvet
Cliché very soft and smooth to the touch. (*Also: as ~.) This cloth is as soft as a baby's bottom. The kitten's fur was as soft as down. Your touch is soft as silk. This lotion will make your skin soft as velvet.
See also: bottom, soft

You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Prov. You cannot make someone more refined than he or she is by nature. I've given up trying to get my cousin to appreciate classical music. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
See also: cannot, ear, make, of, out, purse, silk
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear

Be unable to turn something ugly or inferior into something attractive or of value, as in No matter how expensive his clothes, he still looks sloppy-you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear . This expression was already a proverb in the mid-1500s.
See also: ear, make, of, out, purse, silk

smooth as silk

Lacking impediments or obstacles, unhindered, as in The negotiations went smooth as silk. This simile alludes to the slippery quality of silk. [c. 1900] Also see smooth sailing.
See also: silk, smooth
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear

If you say you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, you mean that it is impossible to make something very successful or of high quality out of something which is unsuccessful or of poor quality. He did his best to coach the team but you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Note: People often vary this expression. It takes more than a good swimming pool and an indoor tennis court or two to make a sow's ear of a resort into a silk purse. Afterwards, Kendall made no attempt to describe this sow's ear as a silk purse. Note: A sow is a female pig, and the ears of a pig are regarded as the least useful body parts when the animal is slaughtered.
See also: ear, make, of, out, purse, silk

smooth as silk

1. If something is as smooth as silk, it is very smooth. The landing at Kirkwall turned out to be as smooth as silk. The cream left my skin as smooth as silk.
2. If someone is smooth as silk, they are polite and confident, often in a way that is not sincere. It might make it easier if I talked to him on my own. He's smooth as silk.
See also: silk, smooth
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

make a silk purse out of a sow's ear

turn something inferior into something of top quality.
The observation that you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear has been proverbial since the late 16th century; there was an earlier version which featured a goat's fleece instead of a sow's ear .
See also: ear, make, of, out, purse, silk
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

make a silk ˌpurse out of a sow’s ˈear

succeed in making something good out of material that does not seem very good at all: If you’re serious about taking up painting, invest in good quality brushes and canvas. After all, it’s no good trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
See also: ear, make, of, out, purse, silk

(as) smooth as ˈsilk

(also (as) smooth as a baby’s ˈbottom humorous) very smooth: He had just shaved and his face was as smooth as a baby’s bottom.
See also: silk, smooth
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

laid to the bone

1. mod. alcohol intoxicated. He got himself laid to the bone.
2. and silked to the bone mod. naked. She was laid to the bone and screaming bloody murder when he opened the door. I was all silked to the bone, getting ready for a shower, when the phone rings.
See also: bone, laid

silked to the bone

verb
See laid to the bone
See also: bone, silk

silk

n. a Caucasian. (Black.) He told his mama that if she doesn’t treat him better, he’s gonna bring some silk home for dinner and let her see what the neighbors think.

silks

n. clothing. I gotta get some new silks before spring.
See also: silk
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear

One cannot turn something inherently inferior into something of value. This proverbial metaphor dates from about 1500, and with some slight variation (“silk” is sometimes “velvet”) makes its way from proverb collections (by Howell, Ray, Dykes, et al.) into literature (Samuel Richardson, Laurence Sterne, Jonathan Swift, Charles Lamb, Robert Browning, George Bernard Shaw, and Clifford Odets, among others).
See also: ear, make, of, out, purse, silk

smooth as silk

Slippery; easily negotiated. The smoothness of this fine fabric was transferred to mean general freedom from hindrances by 1900. O. Henry used the simile in his 1910 story The Dream: “Everything goes as smooth as silk.”
See also: silk, smooth

you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear

You cannot turn something inferior or bad into something of value. This proverbial warning was issued in various forms from the sixteenth century on. It clearly had no literal basis; indeed, the absurdity of trying to turn pig’s ears into silk (or velvet or satin, as some variants have it) no doubt helped the saying survive.
See also: ear, make, of, out, purse, silk
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • (as) smooth as silk
  • smooth as silk
  • (as) smooth as a baby's bottom
  • silky
  • silky smooth
  • smooth out
  • smooth down
  • smooth over
  • (as) soft as silk
  • smooth
References in classic literature
I fully intended to tell you that we did not wish to buy any silks to-day, and I also intended to tell you that we yearned to go immediately to the palace of the Louvre, but enjoying the happiness of seeing you devour four breakfasts this morning has so filled me with pleasurable emotions that I neglect the commonest interests of the time.
I don't want to see any silks today, and I won't look at them.
The Innocents Abroad
And nothing could be nicer," cried Polly, making a dive among the silks Fan was turning over with a lost expression.
An Old Fashioned Girl
A set of silver filagree was added, bracelets, necklace, brooch, and even earrings, for Hortense tied them on with a bit of pink silk which did not show.
Little Women
"The tears will fall on your green silk gown and spot it."
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Even in the modern age, women continue to buy silk saris with great enthusiasm, especially during festivals and wedding seasons and it continues to be an easy-to-wear garment, suitable for work, leisure or luxury.West Bengal with a rich heritage of handloom weaving of silk saris occupies an important place in this cultural legacy.
Evolution of Silk into a Six Yard Draping Story Story that still continues
"There were so many surprises that emerged from our study: new silk genes, new DNA sequences that presumably confer strength, toughness, stretchiness and other properties to silk proteins; and even a silk protein made in venom glands rather than silk glands," said senior author Benjamin F.
Mysterious Powers of Spider Silks
Of the over 14,000 likely genes identified by the researchers, about 28 appeared to be responsible for spider silk proteins, called spidroins.
Genome Study To Understand Unique Properties Of Spider Silk
The Nottingham research team has shown for the first time how "click-chemistry" can be used to attach molecules, such as antibiotics or fluorescent dyes, to artificially produced spider silk synthesised by E.coli bacteria.
Click 'N' collect spider silk heads for the hospitals
Subsequently related sectors and interested individuals in and around urban areas of Awassa, Nazareth, Addis Ababa, Debrezeit, and Bahir Dar are involved in the development silk production program [2].
Investigation of Properties of Silk Fiber Produced in Ethiopia
The Chinese has used silk since the 27th century B.C.
Sericulture - An Art and Science of Silk Production
Contemporary Art from China', and 'Silks from the Silk Road -- Chinese Silk Art'.
Embark on a 'Chinese Treasure Trail'
'These results demonstrate that silkworms can be engineered to manufacture composite silk fibers containing stably integrated spider silk protein sequences, which significantly improve the overall mechanical properties of the parental silkworm silk fibers.
Did a spider spin that silk negligee?
Zinda Jan was once at the heart of the Silk Road trade route, a varied network of trading posts that link Asia with the Mediterranean Basin.
A Silky Tale
1 To determine if a silk fabric is hand washable, cut a 5" square from the desired silk fabric.
35 silk sewing tips