YOU CAN’T MAKE A SILK PURSE OUT OF A SOW’S EAR

This idiom, or proverb, dates back to the 16th century [1], and it means that you can’t make a high-quality product from poor-quality materials.

 Examples:

 “As a vehicle dynamics engineer from another brand said to me this week, at least 80pc of how a car handles is down to the chassis. If it’s not up to standard, there’s only so much you can do with the rest of the set-up. You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.”

 “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. I’m amazed at the lack of quality in some bats. I can’t compete on price with the thousands that are imported every year but I can make something that will last and will perform – in the right hands.”

 “‘Over the years, I’ve come to realize that, when the bean gets into the factory, 80 percent of what the chocolate can be is already determined,’ he explained. ‘You can go up from there or down from there, but you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.’”


 Photo credit: Jennie Rainsford (Creative Commons)

 [1] “silk” In Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms, edited by Ayto, John. Oxford University Press, 2009.

TO GRASP THE NETTLE

To grasp the nettle is to boldly tackle a problem.

  Examples


 “They have failed to grasp the nettle of reorientating the system towards climate realities.”

 “With the support and backing of Woodgate and his coaches, Fletcher has now grasped the nettle.”

 “Parliament and party leaders on all sides must now grasp the nettle.”


 This phrase relates to a proverb dating back to the 16th century but is quoted as follows in the play “Juno and the Paycock”  by Seán O’Casey (first performed in 1924):
 “If you gently touch a nettle it’ll sting you for your pains; grasp it like a lad of mettle, an’ as soft as silk remains.” [1,2]
 In other words, a nettle will sting you if you touch it lightly, but not if you grasp it firmly.

 An early use of the word nettle to denote a problem is recorded in Shakespeare’s play, Henry IV, part I:
 “but I tell you, my lord fool, out of this nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety.” [3]


 [1] “grasp” In Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms, edited by Ayto, John, Oxford University Press, 2009.
 [2] “If you gently touch a nettle it’ll sting you for your pains; grasp it like a lad of mettle, an’ as soft as silk remains.” in The Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs, edited by Simpson, John, and Jennifer Speake, Oxford University Press, 2008. 
 [3] Shakespeare, William. King Henry IV, Part 1 (p. 16). Kindle Edition.

 Photo credit: Alison Oddy (Creative Commons)

 Updated Tuesday 10 March 2020