English Explanatory Dictionary

make a silk purse of a sow's ear

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To produce something refined, admirable, or valuable from something which is unrefined, unpleasant, or of little or no value.

Word forms

make a silk purse of a sow's ear makes a silk purse of a sow's ear making a silk purse of a sow's ear made a silk purse of a sow's ear

Etymology

Coined by Stephen Gosson in 1579 in the book The Ephemerides of Phialo: Deuided Into Three Bookes p62v

Related words

put lipstick on a pig polish a turd
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