cast pearls before swine

Idioms  

1. Give something of value of someone who won't appreciate it, as in The old professor felt that lecturing on Dante to unruly undergraduates would be casting pearls before swine. This term comes from the New Testament (Matthew 7:6), appearing in Tyndale's translation (1526). It was repeated often by writers from Shakespeare to Dickens and remains current.

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Example Sentences

If we cast pearls before swine, my boy, we must not be surprised to find them taken for the seeds of cabbage-heads.

From The Orpheus C. Kerr Papers. Series 3 by Newell, Robert H.

We may find, that we have cast pearls before swine.

From The Growth of Thought As Affecting the Progress of Society by Withington, William

"I answer," he said with set face and flashing eyes, "that I will not cast pearls before swine."

From Pearl-Maiden by Haggard, Henry Rider

On her face was the look of one who has cast pearls before swine.

From Okewood of the Secret Service by Williams, Valentine

Some would not rightly appreciate the value of your frankness, and never cast pearls before swine.

From Charlotte Bront? A Monograph by Reid, T. Wemyss