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make a silk purse of a sow's ear. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
make a silk purse of a sow's ear, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
make a silk purse of a sow's ear in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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make a silk purse of a sow's ear, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
Coined by Stephen Gosson in 1579 in the book The Ephemerides of Phialo: Deuided Into Three Bookes p62v
Verb
make a silk purse of a sow's ear (third-person singular simple present makes a silk purse of a sow's ear, present participle making a silk purse of a sow's ear, simple past and past participle made a silk purse of a sow's ear)
- (idiomatic) To produce something refined, admirable, or valuable from something which is unrefined, unpleasant, or of little or no value.
1884, Charlotte M. Yonge, chapter 22, in The Armourer's Prentices:"He always was an unmannerly cub," said Master Headley, as he read the letter. "Well, I've done my best to make a silk purse of a sow's ear!"
2001 January 6, Penny Jackson, “House & Home: On your marks. Get set. Sell!”, in Independent, UK, retrieved 16 Dec. 2009:A smart development can make a silk purse of a sow's ear, and the effect on older properties can be quite dramatic.
Usage notes
Translations
to produce something refined, from something which is unrefined
See also