ProverbChallengeGerman origin

Wo gehobelt wird, da fallen Späne

Meaning: Any real work or change comes with some mess or damage.

Literally: Where planing is done, shavings fall

Example: “Bei der Renovierung ging einiges kaputt, aber wo gehobelt wird, da fallen Späne.” — A few things got broken during the renovation, but you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs.

Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, 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)
  • 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)
  • Polish: Gdzie drwa rąbią, tam wióry lecą (literally: Where wood is chopped, shavings fly)

Origin: A carpenter's image: you cannot plane a board without wood shavings falling to the floor.

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