ProverbChallenge
Polish origin
Polish originGdzie drwa rąbią, tam wióry lecą
Meaning: Any big job causes some damage along the way.
Literally: Where wood is chopped, shavings fly
Example: “Remont narobił bałaganu, ale gdzie drwa rąbią, tam wióry lecą.” — The renovation made a mess, but you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and 2 more languages
English: You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs
French: On ne fait pas d'omelette sans casser des œufs (literally: You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs)
Spanish: No se puede hacer tortilla sin romper huevos (literally: You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs)
German: Wo gehobelt wird, da fallen Späne (literally: Where planing is done, shavings fall)
Italian: Non si fa nessuna frittata senza rompere le uova (literally: No omelette is made without breaking eggs)
Dutch: Waar gehakt wordt, vallen spaanders (literally: Where wood is chopped, chips fall)
Russian: Лес рубят — щепки летят (Les rubyat — shchepki letyat) (literally: When the forest is felled, chips fly)
Origin: Where wood is chopped, chips fly: the Polish twin of Russian лес рубят — щепки летят.
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