Are you looking for a way to tell someone that the creative process is messy, or that you can’t achieve success without making mistakes along the way? The phrase “you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs” might be just what you’re looking for.
Keep reading to discover what it means, how to use it, and it came from.
Meaning
The correct phrase is “you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs” (UK) or “you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs” (US).
In order to make an omelet, it is first necessary to crack some eggs — breaking them to create something new. The saying, as such, means that creating something new is necessarily messy and can sometimes have unwanted consequences.
The saying “you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs” is used to tell people that it is OK to make mistakes or go through hardships to achieve a goal.
Example Usage
Are you wondering when you might be able to put this idiom into action? Take a look at these examples to better understand the context in which it is appropriate:
- “My first three businesses failed, and it wasn’t until I started my fourth venture that I found success. Don’t be surprised if the same thing happens to you; you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.”
- “Oh yeah, my husband is remodeling the kitchen on his own. I know it looks like a mess right now, but you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs, right?”
- “I know they say you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs, but do clean up after you make a mess!”
Origin
“You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs” uses a powerful metaphor to illustrate that the process of creating something new is by definition messy. We cannot expect to be successful without making mistakes, or engaging in unpleasant and chaotic activities, along the way.
The idiom originates in France, and it is likely that the earliest versions of it referred to pancakes instead of omelets. The current version has been in use since at least 1742, however.
French royalist Francois de Charette, who was opposed to the French Revolution and was involved in the deaths of many people over its course, justified his actions by using the phrase “on ne saurait faire d'omelette sans casser des œufs”.
This translates to “omelets aren’t made without breaking eggs”, and the idiom “you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs” entered the English language soon after.
It has consistently been in use for hundreds of years now. “You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs” likely remains popular because we have all made omelets, and can relate to the idea that metaphorical eggs need to be cracked in order to be successful and create something new.
Phrases Similar to You Can't Make an Omelette Without Breaking Eggs
The saying “ you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs” can be seen as motivational in nature, and encourages people to keep trying even if things go wrong along the way. You could also say:
- You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take — meaning that trying is always better than not trying.
- Failure is success in progress.
Phrases Opposite to You Can't Make an Omelette Without Breaking Eggs
We sometimes make terrible mistakes on the road to success, without considering the consequences. To illustrate this idea, you could say:
- The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
- The ends don’t always justify the means.
What Is the Correct Saying?
The correct saying is “you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs” (British spelling) or “you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs” (American spelling). It means that success is messy.
Ways People May Say You Can't Make an Omelette Without Breaking Eggs Incorrectly
The saying “you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs” does not mean that every action can be justified, so long as the end result is desired. It merely means that the path to success is chaotic and messy.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase You Can't Make an Omelette Without Breaking Eggs
You could tell someone who’s made mistakes, or come up against unwanted struggles as they are trying to achieve a goal, that “you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs”. This phrase is most helpful when talking about career goals, but it can be used in more personal settings as well.