A mess or a botched job. "You've made a right pig's ear of that, haven't you?" Originates from the 16th century proverb, "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear".

In cockney rhyming slang, pig's ear = beer.

Actual pig's ears, available from butchers and pet shops, make excellent dog chews. The more adventurous will find shredded pig's ears available in some Chinese restaurants.