all grist to the mill

Meaning: Everything can be turned to use or advantage.

Language: English

Literally: (Already vivid in English)

Example: “For a comedian, every bad date is grist to the mill.”

Category: Food & Drink

Origin: "Grist" is grain brought to be ground at a mill, and a miller could profit from all of it. The phrase is found from the 16th century.

Equivalents in other languages

French: Faire son miel de quelque chose — literally: To make one's honey from something

you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs — Achieving something worthwhile involves some loss or damage.
in a pickle — In a difficult situation.
jam tomorrow — A promise of good things in the future that never arrive.
no picnic — Not easy or pleasant.
a poisoned chalice — Something that seems attractive but brings trouble to whoever accepts it.
think the moon is made of green cheese — To be very gullible.

have one's work cut out — To face a difficult task.
mum's the word — Keep this secret; say nothing.
hale and hearty — Healthy and strong, especially in old age.
find one's sea legs — To get used to a boat's movement; to grow comfortable in a new situation.
break a leg — Good luck, said to a performer before going on stage.
hey presto — Said when something happens suddenly, as if by magic.

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. — A relentless 'p' plosive drill; a peck is an old dry measure of about nine litres.
Unique New York. — Three words that jam the 'y/n/k' sequence together — repeat it and it collapses into 'you…
Pad kid poured curd pulled cod. — Alternating repetition — the consonants swap at the start of every other word, which is w…