Idiom Breakdown

make a silk purse of a sow's ear

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Definition

To produce something refined, admirable, or valuable from something which is unrefined, unpleasant, or of little or no value.

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Coined by Stephen Gosson in 1579 in the book The Ephemerides of Phialo: Deuided Into Three Bookes p62v

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""He always was an unmannerly cub," said Master Headley, as he read the letter. "Well, I've done my best to make a silk purse of a sow's ear!""
"PR people can make a silk purse of a sow's ear."
"A smart development can make a silk purse of a sow's ear, and the effect on older properties can be quite dramatic."

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