Dictionary

cast pearls before swine en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From the Bible: "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." – KJV, Matthew 7:6.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To give things of value to those who will not understand or appreciate them.
   • Blanche: ...Physical beauty is passing. A transitory possession. But beauty of the mind and richness of the spirit and tenderness of the heart—and I have all of those things—aren't taken away, but grow! Increase with the years! How strange that I should be called a destitute woman! When I have all of these treasures locked in my heart. [A choked sob comes from her] I think of myself as a very, very rich woman! But I have been foolish—casting my pearls before swine! 1947, Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire, Scene 10:

Forms

Deriveds

pearls before swine

Relateds

caviar to the general · talk over somebody's head

Synonyms

preach to deaf ears

Translations (32)

ja 豚に真珠 (to cast pearls before swine) · es no se hizo la miel para la boca del asno (to cast pearls before swine) · ru мета́ть би́сер пе́ред сви́ньями (to cast pearls before swine) · pl rzucać perły przed wieprze (to cast pearls before swine) · fi heittää helmiä sioille (to cast pearls before swine) · es echar perlas a los cerdos (to cast pearls before swine) · fr jeter des perles aux pourceaux (to cast pearls before swine) · da kaste perler for svin (to cast pearls before swine) · eo ĵeti perlojn antaŭ la porkojn (to cast pearls before swine) · es Dios da pan a quien no tiene dientes (to cast pearls before swine) · pl rzucić perły przed wieprze (to cast pearls before swine) · nn kaste perler for svin (to cast pearls before swine) · sv kasta pärlor för svin (to cast pearls before swine) · he נזם זהב באף חזיר (to cast pearls before swine) · pt jogar pérolas aos porcos (other verbs used: atirar, lançar) (to cast pearls before swine) · sh bacati bisere pred svinje (to cast pearls before swine) · el μαργαρίτας τοις κυσίν (to cast pearls before swine) · fr donner de la confiture à des cochons (to cast pearls before swine) · sv kasta pärlor för svinen (to cast pearls before swine) · nb kaste perler for svin (to cast pearls before swine) · de Perlen vor die Säue werfen (to cast pearls before swine) · nl paarlen voor de zwijnen werpen (to cast pearls before swine) · es echar margaritas a los cerdos (to cast pearls before swine) · nl parels voor de zwijnen (to cast pearls before swine) · cs házet perly sviním (to cast pearls before swine) · ms kera diberi bunga (to cast pearls before swine) · it gettare perle ai porci (to cast pearls before swine) · la mittere margaritas ante porcos (to cast pearls before swine) · is kasta perlum fyrir svín (to cast pearls before swine) · cmn 明珠暗投 (to cast pearls before swine) · es dar margaritas a los cerdos (to cast pearls before swine) · pt dar pérolas a porcos (to cast pearls before swine)