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

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

"Vain to cast pearls before swine!"

From Project Gutenberg

She had a fine feeling that it was not fit for the company, a feeling that is expressed in the admonition not to cast pearls before swine, though that admonition did not occur to her at the time.

From Project Gutenberg