Pearls are beautiful and valuable, and they’re also used in English idioms to describe rare and precious things or situations. In this post, we’ll explore idioms related to pearls, which can make your conversations and writing sparkle!
Pearl Idioms
Here are 20 pearl idioms in English with meaning and example sentence for each.
Pearls of wisdom
- Meaning: Valuable advice or knowledge
- Example: Grandpa shared his pearls of wisdom.
Cast pearls before swine
- Meaning: Offer something valuable to those who don’t appreciate it
- Example: Don’t cast pearls before swine.
Pearl of great price
- Meaning: Something of great value
- Example: This antique is a pearl of great price.
Pearl-clutching
- Meaning: Overly conservative or easily shocked
- Example: Her pearl-clutching is amusing.
Seed pearl
- Meaning: Something small but valuable
- Example: Each detail is a seed pearl.
Mother-of-pearl
- Meaning: A beautiful or iridescent substance
- Example: The box was lined with mother-of-pearl.
Diving for pearls
- Meaning: Searching for something valuable
- Example: He’s always diving for pearls in junk.
To own a pearl
- Meaning: To have something precious
- Example: She finally owns a pearl of her own.
Pearl diving
- Meaning: Exploring for treasures
- Example: We went pearl diving this summer.
String of pearls
- Meaning: A series of good things
- Example: Life gave him a string of pearls.
Pearl necklace
- Meaning: Continuous good fortune
- Example: Her career is a pearl necklace of successes.
The world is your oyster
- Meaning: You can achieve anything
- Example: With that degree, the world is your oyster.
Polish the pearl
- Meaning: Improve something already good
- Example: She continues to polish the pearl of her craft.
Pearl in the rough
- Meaning: Hidden potential or value
- Example: He’s a real pearl in the rough.
Pearl Harbor
- Meaning: A sudden devastating attack
- Example: It was a real Pearl Harbor situation.
Pearl gray
- Meaning: A shade of gray color
- Example: The walls were painted pearl gray.
Clutching at pearls
- Meaning: Reacting with shock to what others find normal
- Example: She’s always clutching at pearls.
Black pearl
- Meaning: Something rare and exquisite
- Example: She’s the black pearl of the family.
Throwing pearls at pigs
- Meaning: Wasting effort on the unappreciative
- Example: Don’t bother, it’s like throwing pearls at pigs.
Pearl-white
- Meaning: Pure white, often iridescent
- Example: Her dress was pearl-white.
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