[cast|throw] pearls before swine
1
to do good things and waste valuable resources for ungrateful people
The origin of the idiom "cast pearls before swine" is biblical, and it is derived from a passage in the New Testament where Jesus warns his followers not to waste their teachings on people who are not receptive to them. The phrase has been in use in English since at least the early 17th century, and it is often applied to situations where someone is making a great effort to share something valuable, such as knowledge or wisdom, with someone who is not interested or capable of understanding it. In general, the phrase is used to caution people against investing their time and energy in situations where their efforts are unlikely to be appreciated or reciprocated.
- I spent hours writing a thoughtful email to my boss, but he didn't even bother to read it.It felt like throwing pearls before swine.
- I tried explaining the importance of saving money to my friend who always spends impulsively, but it felt like I was casting pearls before swine.
- The teacher put a lot of effort into preparing an engaging lesson, but her students were more interested in chatting and playing on their phones.She felt like she was casting pearls before swine.