You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear
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.
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.
- teach a man to fish
- it takes a village
- village
- best-laid plans go astray, the
- the best-laid plans
- the best-laid plans go astray
- the best-laid plans of mice and men
- a little knowledge is a dangerous thing
- a little learning is a dangerous thing
- appearances can be deceiving