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

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

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

Herewith I pause, for why should I cast pearls before swine?

From The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 24 (of 25) by Stevenson, Robert Louis

I am always a little angry that my friends don't do something better on such occasions; but why cast pearls before swine?

From Early Letters of George Wm. Curtis by Cooke, George Willis

Is not this to cast pearls before swine?

From The World's Great Sermons, Volume 01 Basil to Calvin by Kleiser, Grenville

"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