silk purse ...

Posted by VictoriaS Dennis on November 12, 2005

In Reply to: Silk purse ... posted by kevin dugan on November 11, 2005

: What is the origin of the phrase "you can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear"
The origin is unknown. The first known use is in a book called "Ephemerides of Phialo" published in 1579 by a man called Gosson "Seeking.too make a silke purse of a Sowes eare", but it was obviously a common proverb even then. (VSD)

See: the meaning and origin of the phrase "you can't make silk purse out of a sow's ear".