# cast pearls before swine

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/cast-pearls-before-swine
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To give things of value to those who will not understand or appreciate them.

## Examples

- Why cast pearls before swine? They won't care.
- He stopped explaining poetry to them; it felt like casting pearls before swine.
- She finally understood that sharing her research with the committee was casting pearls before swine, since they had already decided to ignore every expert opinion.

## Origin

From the Bible "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." – KJV, Matthew 7:6.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.