pearls before swine?

[rawhead]

Does anyone know what the saying: "It's like casting pearls before swine." mean please?

[southerngirl]

It is a phrase from the bible and means basically that you can give something precious to someone who is ignorant and they will not appreciate it. In other words, a waste of time and money. A bit like the saying "put a pig in a palace and he will turn it into a sty".

[andy-hughes]

It's a bibical quote, said by Jesus to his disciples.

The meaning is - don't bother trying to offer something valuable, either advice or something material, to someone who will simply not understand and appreciate it.

'Don't bother taking Fred to see a Shakespeare play, it's like casting pearls before swine.'

The inference is that Fred is too stupid to appreciate Shakespeare, so it would be a complete waste of time and money.

[andy-hughes]

Sorry southerngirl - we posted simultaneously!

[B00]

The same as "feeding pigs cherries" then?

[Argee]

The exact quotation is: "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet". Matthew 7.6

It meant to offer something of a quality that the uncultured Philistine would not appreciate.

[Kingaroo]

A wonderful story about the tart-tongued writer and socialite Dorothy Parker who always knew just what to say....

In her later years, at a party, she approached the door at the same time as a catty young woman. The younger woman stepped back, gestured that Ms. Parker should go first, and said, "Age before beauty!" Parker swept haughtily through the door, retorting, "Pearls before swine!"