you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear

== English == === Etymology === From make a silk purse of a sow's ear, with the common perception of swine as unrefined, dirty, or base creatures. === Proverb === you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear It is not possible to produce something refined, admirable, or valuable from something which is unrefined, unpleasant, or of little or no value. ==== Synonyms ==== you can't polish a turd ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== put lipstick on a pig cast pearls before swine