ProverbChallengeRussian origin

Лес рубят — щепки летят (Les rubyat — shchepki letyat)

Meaning: Big undertakings always cause some collateral damage.

Literally: When the forest is felled, chips fly

Example: “Реформа задела многих, но лес рубят — щепки летят.” — The reform hurt many people, 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)
  • Polish: Gdzie drwa rąbią, tam wióry lecą (literally: Where wood is chopped, shavings fly)

Origin: When a forest is felled, wood chips fly. In the 1930s the saying became notorious as a justification of the Stalinist purges.

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