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Silk Purse

.

You cannot make a silk purse of a sow’s car. “You cannot make a horn of a pig’s tail.” A sow’s ear may somewhat resemble a purse, and a curied pig’s tail may somewhat resemble a twisted horn, but a sow’s ear cannot be made into a silk purse, nor a pig’s tail into a cow’s horn.

“You cannot make, my lord, I fear,

A velvet purse of a sow’s ear.”


Peter Pindar: Lord B. and His Motions.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Sikes (Bill)
Sikh
Silbury
Silchester (Berks)
Silence gives Consent
Silent (The)
Silenus
Silhouette
Silk
Silk Gown
Silk Purse
Silken Thread
Silly is the German selig (blessed)
Silly Season (The)
Siluria—that is
Silurian Rocks
Silvana
Silvanella
Silver was
Silver
Silver Cooper (The)