you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Also seen as: you've got to crack a few eggs to make an omelette
Meaning · English
In order to achieve something, it is inevitable and necessary that some mistakes are made or some sacrifices must occur.
Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt
muốn làm được điều gì đó thì phải chấp nhận hy sinh
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
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.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs” mean?
In order to achieve something, it is inevitable and necessary that some mistakes are made or some sacrifices must occur.
Is “you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.