Coined byStephen Gosson in 1579 in the bookThe Ephemerides of Phialo: Deuided Into Three Bookes p62v
makeasilkpurseofasow'sear (third-person singular simple presentmakes a silk purse of a sow's ear,present participlemaking a silk purse of a sow's ear,simple past and past participlemade a silk purse of a sow's ear)
- (idiomatic) To produce somethingrefined,admirable, orvaluable from something which is unrefined,unpleasant, or of little or no value.
1884,Charlotte M. Yonge, chapter 22, inThe Armourer's Prentices:"He always was an unmannerly cub," said Master Headley, as he read the letter. "Well, I've done my best tomake a silk purse of a sow's ear!"
2001 January 6, Penny Jackson, “House & Home: On your marks. Get set. Sell!”, inIndependent, UK, retrieved 16 Dec. 2009:A smart development canmake a silk purse of a sow's ear, and the effect on older properties can be quite dramatic.
to produce something refined, from something which is unrefined
