Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

pig's ear

British  

noun

  1. something that has been badly or clumsily done; a botched job (esp in the phrase make a pig's ear of ( something ))

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On 9 November, Lord Weir said Ms O'Neill was "making a pig's ear of this" to which Mr Poots replied: "Comes naturally."

From BBC • May 15, 2024

All without expectation of reward — except the occasional dried pig’s ear.

From Washington Post • Jul. 4, 2022

A rich bavette steak, a crisply fried pig’s ear, a long-simmered mutton roast.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 16, 2020

The plants’ names reflect that: mother-in-law’s tongue, needle plant, spike thorn, pig’s ear and the elephants’ favorite snack — the speckboom or bacon bush.

From New York Times • Jun. 16, 2018

The owner lured Roux away with a shriveled pig’s ear, which is apparently a canine delicacy?

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "pig's ear" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com