Where does the expression "make a pigs ear of it" come from?
485049
I suppose it comes from the original 'You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear' meaning that you cannot change something or someone that is set in its ways.
970424
Not sure.  Pink Floyd said they were sheep, pigs, and dogs.  That's from the Animals album.  But I think you are probably thinking of someone else.
741742
I think it's a euphemism for "jacksh-t"\nSo now the question is, where did THAT phrase come from?
681424
Only something a pig-headed man would say....
578919
Everyone is wrong except the guy who said it was from Anglo-Saxon.  "F..k" has a long pedigree in the Germanic languages.  It was found in Proto-Germanic about 2500 years ago as the verb *fukan 'have intercourse'.  This was not vulgar at that time and was a euphemism for some older word.  Ultimately, it comes from Proto-Indo-European *pug- "to strike", from which we get the borrowed Latin form pugilism 'boxing'.
1161678
It's a euphemism for "damn hell" originating in the late 19th or early 20th centuries, when many such euphemisms became popular, such as\n\nGee whiz\nGosh darn\nCrimeny\nJeez\nDash it all\nHoly cow\nHoly moley\nCripes\n...and many, many, many more.
122163
"When pigs fly" is an idiomatic way of saying that something will never happen. Pigs are heavy animals, without wings, and cannot possibly fly, so "when pigs fly" is a time that will never come. The phrase is similar to others such as "when hell freezes over."\n\nThe idiom is apparently derived from a centuries-old Scottish proverb, though some other references to pigs flying or pigs with wings are more famous.
624846
I have a reference from 1997 that already says it is old:\nhttp://www.pbs.org/newshour/forum/august97/terror01.html\n\nThe fact that numerous sources fail to give the original source of the quote suggests that no-one actually knows when it was first used.
195641
The idiom is apparently derived from a centuries-old Scottish proverb, though some other references to pigs flying or pigs with wings are more famous. Here is one such reference from Lewis Carroll:\n\n"Thinking again?" the Duchess asked, with another dig of her sharp little chin.\n"I've a right to think," said Alice sharply, for she was beginning to feel a little worried.\n"Just about as much right," said the Duchess, "as pigs have to fly...." — Alice in Wonderland, chapter 9.
415825
As far as I know, it was invented by Martin Luther during the 1500's.  When he posted his Thesis against the Catholic Church, he used it to get the Word of God into the hands of the common people.
835594
According to Wikipedia, origins of this saying are unknown.......
402074
Germans and other Germanic peoples today have many positive expressions that tie luck to the pig. Someone who comes into something good is told "schwein haben" (to have pig). One is a "lucky pig" if one picks the correct lottery numbers or wins something. A proverb says "One who wants to make an impression buys a horse, one who wants to become wealthy breeds pigs." \nThere are several legends discussing where the pig's reputation came from. Germany's ancient people, the Teutons, sacrificed the pig, their most valuable animal to the gods to ensure good luck. (The pig was a symbol of fertility and wealth to the Teutons as well, helping to ensure pregancy. Perhaps they shared or transferred this belief to or from the ancient Greeks, who revered the pig because pigs were said to suckle Zeus.)\n\nIn another story, the city of Luneburg became wealthy because a pig showed a hunter a source of invaluable salt and the pig is still thanked today. Our favorite story dates to the Middle Ages and says that the person who came in last in a shooting competition was awarded a pig. This person had undeserved luck to "have pig."\n\nAs a common domesticated animal it is not surprising that other cultures have legends about the lucky pig. The Greek fertility god Demeter was associated with pigs. The pig was associated with several Egyptian gods. Celts believed their god Manannan owned magic pigs that could be eaten and reappear the next day. Native Americans believed the pig had the power to bring rain. Of course, we're all familiar with piggy banks as a source of wealth.\n\nWe know the pig is intelligent. Pigs breed quickly and bring wealth. It is associated with good luck and fertility. All good qualities. We all need to "have pig!"
883336
It's from "Through the Looking Glass" by Lewis Carroll. \n\nIt's out of copyright now so maybe you can look through the text http://etext.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/CarGlas.html :)\n\nThat's also where "Jabberwocky" comes from, and the Duchess' Lullaby \n\nSpeak roughly to your little boy,\nAnd beat him when he sneezes:\nHe only does it to annoy,\nBecause he knows it teases.\n\n:)
273618
"mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm" Quote from Homer about pork chops. 21 letters
742198
Good question, what I want to know is who saw a pig rolling around in its own filth and said 'yum that looks tasty lets eat the animal that eats its own crap!'
395355
It is used to describe an event that couldn't possibly happen....\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_pigs_fly
1069531
Well I seem to know it a little different from the people who already answered..\n\nI know it as adding a p- in the middle of each syllable in a word.... so to say "How can you read pig latin" \nyou'd say\n"Hopow capan yopou repead pipig lapatipin"