Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.83 in modern English

Syllables: you -can't -make an omelet-te with-out break-ing eg-gs
IPA

68

Scrabble Score

40

Letters

7

Syllables

18

Unique Chars

Meaning

proverb

In order to achieve something, it is inevitable and necessary that some mistakes are made or some sacrifices must occur.

Example Sentences

"It was remarked to him that he had caused the death of a great many persons. Yes, he replied, omlets are not made without breaking eggs."
"She. Have you any people at Home, Guy, to be pleased with your performances? He. One or two. One can't make omelets without breaking eggs."

Etymology

1796 in English, from French, on ne saurait faire d'omelette sans casser des œufs (1742 and earlier), attributed to François de Charette.

Inflected Forms

you've got to crack a few eggs to make an omelette (alternative)

Phrases

a revolution is not a dinner party collateral damage no pain, no gain side effect the cat would eat fish but would not wet her feet there's no such thing as a free lunch unintended consequence you don't get something for nothing

Frequently Paired Words

a revolution is not a dinner party collateral damage no pain, no gain side effect the cat would eat fish but would not wet her feet there's no such thing as a free lunch unintended consequence you don't get something for nothing

Questions

What does you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs mean?: In order to achieve something, it is inevitable and necessary that some mistakes are made or some sacrifices must occur.
Where does you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs come from?: 1796 in English, from French, on ne saurait faire d'omelette sans casser des œufs (1742 and earlier), attributed to François de Charette.

How to pronounce you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs”.
Repeat and practice — Say “you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.