You can't polish a turd

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Meaning

Some things can't be fixed or prettied up, flaws stay.

Origin

From 20th-century America, tied to 1960s slang; 'polish a turd' for vain, as in a 1969 vet quip. Possibly from farm jests or GI gruff, it reflects a counterculture cut and raw talk.

Variants

  • Can't polish

Usage Examples

  • This car? You can't polish a turd.
  • You can't polish a turd; that plan's shot.
  • Can't polish a turd; leave it be.

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