Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear
proverb
juː kænt meɪk ə sɪlk pɜrs aʊt əv ə saʊz ɪr
Definition
A proverb suggesting that you cannot create something of high quality or value from something that is inherently low quality or unrefined.
Examples
- You can’t expect top performance from that outdated computer; it’s like trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
- He tried to turn his ineffective team into a winning squad, but it was just you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
Meaning
The saying emphasizes the idea that certain situations or materials cannot be transformed into something better than their original state.
Synonyms
- You can’t make a diamond from coal.
- You can’t turn a lemon into lemonade.
