Pearls Before Swine

By Deane Barker • •

Definition: something valuable presented to one who does not or will not recognize its worth

This is a Biblical reference, from Matthew 7:6:

Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Why I Looked It Up

In The First World War, a Captain was discussing some Christmas gifts provided to men at the Western Front:

[the area was] littered with lumps of plum pudding simply chucked away. It’s pearls before swine to try to treat some men as human beings.

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