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Pearls before Swine

What Does "Pearls before Swine" Mean?

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"Pearls before swine" is an English idiom. It means "offering something valuable or profound to those who cannot appreciate or understand its worth; attempting to share knowledge or beauty with unappreciative or unworthy individuals."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "pearls before swine" used in a sentence:
  • Sharing his artistic masterpiece with the uninterested crowd felt like casting pearls before swine.
  • He realized that discussing philosophy with someone who wasn't receptive was like offering pearls before swine.
  • Trying to explain the intricacies of science to a disinterested audience was akin to casting pearls before swine.
meaning for pearls before swine

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Pearls before Swine" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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