you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs en · X
Etymology
1796 in English, from French, on ne saurait faire d'omelette sans casser des œufs (1742 and earlier), attributed to François de Charette.
Meanings
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In order to achieve something, it is inevitable and necessary that some mistakes are made or some sacrifices must occur.
She. Have you any people at Home, Guy, to be pleased with your performances? He. One or two. One can't make omelets without breaking eggs.
1889, Rudyard Kipling, “The Hill of Illusion”, in Under the Deodars, Boston: The Greenock Press, published 1899, page 93:It was remarked to him that he had caused the death of a great many persons. Yes, he replied, omlets are not made without breaking eggs.
1796, Walker's Hibernian Magazine
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| you've got to crack a few eggs to make an omelette | alternative | lexicographic |
Relateds
side effect · the cat would eat fish but would not wet her feet · there's no such thing as a free lunch · a revolution is not a dinner party · you don't get something for nothing · collateral damage · no pain, no gain · unintended consequence
Translations (23)
es no se puede hacer una tortilla sin romper los huevos (phrase) · el αν δεν βρέξεις κώλο, ψάρι δεν τρως (phrase) · es nada que valga la pena se logra sin crear conflictos (phrase) · cs když se kácí les, létají třísky (phrase) · sk keď sa rúbe les, lietajú triesky (phrase) · fa املای نانوشته غلط ندارد (phrase) · pt não se pode fazer omelete sem quebrar os ovos (phrase) · it non si può fare una frittata senza rompere le uova (phrase) · de wo gehobelt wird, fallen Späne (phrase) · fr on ne fait pas d'omelette sans casser des œufs (phrase) · fi munakasta ei voi tehdä rikkomatta munia (phrase) · ja 蒔かぬ種は生えぬ (phrase) · nl waar gehakt wordt vallen spaanders (phrase) · cmn 有得必有失; 有失才有得 (phrase) · hu ahol fát vágnak, ott hullik a forgács (phrase) · no det må knuses noen egg for å lage en omelett (phrase) · es quien quiera peces, que moje el culo (phrase) · pl gdzie drwa rąbią, tam wióry lecą (phrase) · hu csak az nem hibázik, aki nem dolgozik (phrase) · hu áldozat nélkül nincs győzelem (phrase) · fr on ne saurait faire d'omelette sans casser des œufs (phrase) · da hvor der handles, der spildes (phrase) · cmn 天下沒有白吃的午餐 /天下没有白吃的午餐 (phrase)