you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear en · X
Etymology
From make a silk purse of a sow's ear, with the common perception of swine as unrefined, dirty, or base creatures.
Meanings
- It is not possible to produce something refined, admirable, or valuable from something which is unrefined, unpleasant, or of little or no value.
Relateds
cast pearls before swine · put lipstick on a pig
Synonyms
Translations (15)
af al dra 'n aap 'n goue ring, hy is en bly 'n lelike ding (it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined) · ru из говна конфетку не сделаешь (it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined) · fi ei paska punniten parane (it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined) · fi roskasta ei saa kultaa (it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined) · fr le singe est toujours singe, fût-il vêtu de pourpre (it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined) · de man kann aus einem Ackergaul kein Rennpferd machen (it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined) · pl i w Paryżu nie zrobią z owsa ryżu (it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined) · es lo que natura no da, Salamanca no presta (it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined) · bg див глог питомно грозде не ражда (it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined) · de man kann aus einem Esel kein Rennpferd machen (it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined) · nl al draagt een aap een gouden ring, het is en blijft een lelijk ding (it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined) · ru от оси́ны не родя́тся апельси́ны (it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined) · es aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda (it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined) · el τον γάιδαρο, όσο και να τον στολίσεις, άλογο δεν γίνεται (it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined) · pl małpa zawsze będzie małpą, choćby i w jedwabiu (it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined)