You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear

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You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. (old-fashioned)

something that you say which means you cannot make a good quality product using bad quality materials To make chairs that'll last, you need good strong pieces of wood. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

See also: ear, make, out, purse, silk

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You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, not that it has stopped brothers Oxide and Danny Pang trying. movies: Well off target! BANGKOK DANGEROUS (18, 98 MINS) 5/10 In a ... by Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England) YOU can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, not that it has stopped brothers Oxide and Danny Pang. Stylish yet predictable by Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England) I know Kildare aren't overflowing with talented footballers and you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear but to get so little from them was very disappointing for the supporters and serious questions need to be asked about what exactly is being done. Garden's blooming by The Mirror (London, England)			You are else! You are more than welcome You are welcome You asked for it! you bet you bet your ass You bet your ass! you bet your bottom dollar You bet your life! You bet! You betcha! you better believe it You better believe it! You called? You can bet the farm you can bet your life bottom dollar You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar You can lead a horse to water You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink you can say that again You can say that again! You can talk! You can't expect me to believe that You can't judge a book by its cover You can't keep a good man down You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs You can't make bricks without straw You can't mean that! you can't miss it You can't teach an old dog new tricks You can't win 'em all You cannot get a quart into a pint pot You cannot get blood from a stone You cannot have your cake and eat it You cannot lose what you never had You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear You cannot make an omelet without breaking eggs You cannot make bricks without straw You cannot please everyone You cannot put new wine in old bottles You cannot serve God and mammon You cannot teach an old dog new tricks you could cut the atmosphere with a knife You could have heard a pin drop You could have knocked me down with a feather! You could have knocked me over with a feather You could've fooled me You couldn't! You don't get for nothing You don't know the half of it			You Can't Do Business Sitting On Your Ass You Can't Do Business When Your Computer Is Down You Can't Do That You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore You Can't Do That on Television You can't expect me to believe that You Can't Fall Off the Floor You Can't Find It Anywhere You Can't Finish You Can't Get Better You Can't Go Home Again You Can't Go Home Again you can't have your cake and eat it you can't have your cake and eat it you can't have your cake and eat it You can't have your cake and eat it too You can't have your cake and eat it too You can't have your cake and eat it too You Can't Hurry Love You can't judge a book by its cover You can't keep a good man down You can't keep a good man down You can't keep a good man down You can't keep a good man down You can't keep a good man down You can't keep a good woman down You can't keep a good woman down You can't keep a good woman down You can't keep a good woman down You can't keep a good woman down You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs You can't make bricks without straw You Can't Make Money Sitting on Your Ass You Can't Make This Stuff Up You can't mean that! you can't miss it You Can't Polish A Turd You Can't Prove Me Wrong you can't run with the hares and hunt with the hounds you can't run with the hares and hunt with the hounds you can't run with the hares and hunt with the hounds you can't run with the hares and hunt with the hounds You can't say fairer than that You Can't Sell Anything Sitting On Your Arse You Can't Sell Freight Sitting on Your Ass You Can't Take It with You you can't talk you can't talk you can't talk You can't teach an old dog new tricks You can't teach an old dog new tricks You Can't Type for Squat You Can't Win 'Em All you can't win them all you can't win them all you can't win them all You cannot get a quart into a pint pot You cannot get blood from a stone

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