On ne fait pas d'omelette sans casser des œufs
Meaning: Worthwhile results require some damage along the way.
Language: French
Literally: You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs
Category: Food & Drink
Origin: A French proverb that English borrowed intact. It has a long history of being deployed by people who are not the eggs.
More idioms — Food & Drink
- Refiler la patate chaude — To hand an awkward problem to someone else.
- Dans le pétrin — In serious trouble.
- Avoir du pain sur la planche — To have a great deal of work ahead.
- Manger son pain blanc en premier — To take the easy part at the start and leave the hard part for later.
- C'est du nanan — It is delicious — or, by extension, extremely easy.
- Un pique-nique — A meal eaten outdoors to which everyone contributes.
More French idioms
- Être médusé — To be struck dumb with astonishment.
- Motus et bouche cousue — Not a word to anyone.
- À fleur de peau — Raw and easily provoked, of emotions; or just at the surface.
- Avoir bon pied bon œil — To be in excellent shape, especially for one's age.
- Avoir le pied marin — To keep one's balance on a moving deck; to be unshaken by turbulence.
- Au pied levé — At a moment's notice, with no preparation.
From our false friends
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- Phrase — Actually means 'sentence'. For a short phrase or expression, say une expression.
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