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It is not possible to produce something refined, admirable, or valuable from something which is unrefined, unpleasant, or of little or no value.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
From make a silk purse of a sow's ear, with the common perception of swine as unrefined, dirty, or base creatures.
Across languages
Translations
15 source translations are retained for this English entry.
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Afrikaans:
al dra 'n aap 'n goue ring, hy is en bly 'n lelike ding
— it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined
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Bulgarian:
див глог питомно грозде не ражда
(div glog pitomno grozde ne ražda)
— it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined
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Dutch:
al draagt een aap een gouden ring, het is en blijft een lelijk ding
— it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined
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Finnish:
ei paska punniten parane
— it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined
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Finnish:
roskasta ei saa kultaa
— it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined
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French:
le singe est toujours singe, fût-il vêtu de pourpre
— it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined
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German:
man kann aus einem Ackergaul kein Rennpferd machen
— it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined
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German:
man kann aus einem Esel kein Rennpferd machen
— it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined
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Greek:
τον γάιδαρο, όσο και να τον στολίσεις, άλογο δεν γίνεται
(ton gáidaro, óso kai na ton stolíseis, álogo den gínetai)
— it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined
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Polish:
i w Paryżu nie zrobią z owsa ryżu
— it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined
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Polish:
małpa zawsze będzie małpą, choćby i w jedwabiu
— it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined
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Russian:
от оси́ны не родя́тся апельси́ны
(ot osíny ne rodjátsja apelʹsíny)
— it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined
-
Russian:
из говна конфетку не сделаешь
(iz govna konfetku ne sdelaješʹ)
— it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined
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Spanish:
aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda
— it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined
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Spanish:
lo que natura no da, Salamanca no presta
— it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined
