you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear

English

Etymology

From make a silk purse of a sow's ear, with the common perception of swine as unrefined, dirty, or base creatures.

Proverb

you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear

It is not possible to produce something refined, admirable, or valuable from something which is unrefined, unpleasant, or of little or no value.

Synonyms

you can't polish a turd

Translations

it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined

Afrikaans: al dra 'n aap 'n goue ring, hy is en bly 'n lelike ding (af) (literally “the monkey remains ugly even when he wears a golden ring.”)
Italian: non si può cavare sangue da una rapa
Russian: из говна конфетку не сделаешь (iz govna konfetku ne sdelaješʹ) (you can't make a candy from shit)

Spanish: aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda (es)

See also

put lipstick on a pig

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