To Cast pearls before swine 的意思是“珍珠投在豬玀前面”。swine 是個(gè)舊詞,書面詞,即今為 pigs,不過(guò) swine單復(fù)同形,本句為復(fù)數(shù)。
這個(gè)成語(yǔ)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(gè)國(guó)際性成語(yǔ),常用來(lái)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(gè)成語(yǔ)與漢語(yǔ)成語(yǔ)“明珠暗投”相似,但是寓意不同,基本上不對(duì)應(yīng);按一比喻意義, 它相當(dāng)于“對(duì)牛彈琴”,“向驢說(shuō)經(jīng)”“一番好意給狗吃”“狗咬呂洞賓,不識(shí)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.