Idioms

pearls before swine

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pearls before swine

Something valuable presented to one who does not or will not recognize its worth. The phrase originated in the Bible. Most of the time, playing classical music for high schoolers is like casting your pearls before swine. But every so often a few kids appreciate it. I can't believe he gave his brand-new convertible to that bumpkin—talk about casting your pearls before swine.
See also: before, pearl, swine
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

pearls before swine

Wasting something that is not appreciated. In Matthew 7:6, Jesus warned his followers not to waste time by throwing pearls of wisdom before ungodly swine. When writers Claire Booth Luce and Dorothy Parker simultaneously arrived at a door, Luce stepped back to allow Parker to precede her by saying with a smile, “Age before beauty.” As she walked through the door, Parker replied, “And pearls before swine.”
See also: before, pearl, swine
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price Copyright © 2011 by Steven D. Price
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References in periodicals archive
"Pearls Before Swine" was a great addition to the morning comics.
Because I kept getting nice comments, I created Pearls Before Swine. I drew two hundred of the strip in 1997.
King of the Comics: A Pearls Before Swine Collection is an anthology of newspaper comic strips from the popular, if notoriously uncouth "Pearls Before Swine" series.
When Suarez did produce some brilliance, it was a little like casting pearls before swine.
Has he never heard the expression - casting pearls before swine?
Stephan Pastis' PEARLS BEFORE SWINE comes alike in THE CREATION OF RAT (9781449417031, $13.99), a survey that blends a full-sized single panel for each month with the panel placed in context of the entire strip below.
"While I have you here, my friends and I would like to request that you bring back the comics Pearls Before Swine and Garfield."
Stephan Pastis' THE CRASS MENAGERIE (0740771000, $16.99) is a 'Pearls Before Swine' collection including all cartoons from Da Brudderhood of Zeeba Zeeba Eata and The Sopratos.
Former attorney turned award-winning cartoonist Stephan Pastis presents Pearls Falls Fast, the latest treasury of two years' worth of "Pearls Before Swine" newspaper comic strips, including Sunday strips in full color.
Stephan Pastis' BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU JUST GOTTA DRAW A COVER WITH YOUR LEFT HAND (9781449410230, $12.99) is a fine Pearls Before Swine gathering and cartoonist Pastis' 12th collection, and provides black and white and some color images of hilarious animal characters and ironies.
Earlier recordings had been released by The Kingston Trio, The Fortunes in 1968 and by Pearls Before Swine in 1970/71.
Among the comics Google users can choose from are current favorites "Dilbert," "Pearls Before Swine" and "Nancy." Also included in the list of themes are superheroes Batman, Superman and Iron Man, as well as Universal Press' "Garfield" and "Ziggy" and King Features' "Mutts."
Far right: Pearls Before Swine stars animals including Rat, who thinks he knows it all.
Pearls Before Swine is one of the most hilarious comic strips in print, telling of the antics of crocodiles who long to consume their zebra neighbor, of a not-so-smart pig and his sidekick Duck, and more.
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