# pearls before swine

idiom

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

## Meaning

Something of value, beauty, refinement, or wisdom left to people who will not appreciate it.

## Examples

- Giving him that rare book is like casting pearls before swine.
- She spent hours explaining the complex symphony to her bored friends, feeling like she was casting pearls before swine.
- The professor realized that offering his deepest philosophical insights to an audience only interested in gossip was merely casting pearls before swine.

## Origin

See cast pearls before swine.

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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.