you can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs

idiom

Meaning

There's always a cost to doing something

Origin

folk etymology

From the French proverb 'on ne fait pas d'omelette sans casser des œufs', long (though doubtfully) attributed to Robespierre; in English from the mid-19th century.

Examples

SIMPLE

You can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs to get results.

CONTEXTUAL

The construction is noisy and messy, but you can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs if you want a new kitchen.

COMPLEX

The CEO acknowledged that the restructuring would be difficult for the staff, noting that you can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs when modernizing a company.

Last updated June 7, 2026