To Cast pearls before swine 的意思是“珍珠投在豬玀前面”。swine 是個舊詞,書面詞,即今為 pigs,不過 swine單復(fù)同形,本句為復(fù)數(shù)。
這個成語源自《新約。馬太福音》第 7 章:“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you”. 由 于 to cast pearls before swine, 比喻確切,在后世不斷引用中而成為一個國際性成語,常用來表示to offer sth valuable or beautiful to those who can't appreciate it; to give what is precious to those who are unable to understand its value 等意思,含有輕蔑嘲笑色彩。按其字面意義,這個成語與漢語成語“明珠暗投”相似,但是寓意不同,基本上不對應(yīng);按一比喻意義, 它相當(dāng)于“對牛彈琴”,“向驢說經(jīng)”“一番好意給狗吃”“狗咬呂洞賓,不識好人心”等。
Eg .She read them Shakespeare, but it was casting pearls before swine
I won't waste good advice on John any more because he never listens to it. I won't cast pearls before swine.