Does English have any proverbs or other sayings meaning "One should not use expensive items to do an everyday thing" ?
For instance :
Don't buy a Ferrari to run on a dirt road or park in a multistory.
Does English have any proverbs or other sayings meaning "One should not use expensive items to do an everyday thing" ?
For instance :
Don't buy a Ferrari to run on a dirt road or park in a multistory.
It's less to do with "use", and more to do with something of quality for an unappreciative recipient, but: "Pearls before swine".
Not exactly in the league of a Ferrari or a race horse, but (depending on the way we look at it,) a sledgehammer may be a relatively expensive tool to crack a nut.
Wiktionary:
Verb
use a sledgehammer to crack a nut(idiomatic) To use significantly excessive force to carry out an action; to do something overzealously
Today, Mr Worthington, an engineer, said: 'Sending three officers over simply to give a warning about kids playing football in the street is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
"Smash it with a golden hammer." seems a good fit.
I can't think of all that many common idioms for this specific idea, but this is description: you can assemble things to fit.
References to things like "the good china" can work. e.g. "Like taking the good china to a picnic"
You just need to make sure that the listener is clear that the thing in question it's fancy and expensive and that the task is normally done with basic tools. Idiom doesn't need to be common to be understandable.
(References to silver bullets can make this point, but carries references to superstition or destroying evil.
"Gold/Platinum bullets" would scrape off the extra meanings fairly well.
"Gold-plated" as an adjective usually denotes 'expensive but not better'. Outside jewelry and electronics, that's generally understood.
"Spinning rims" denote pure decoration, if that's you point.)