Ret's Weekend English Roundup ✦ Week 45, 2026

View this lesson in your browser WEEK 45 • 2026 A five-minute English lesson for your weekend THIS WEEK'S EXPRESSION You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs proverb  |  /juː kɑːnt meɪk ən ˈɒmlət wɪˈðaʊt ˈbreɪkɪŋ eɡz/ MEANING You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs means that achieving something worthwhile may involve difficulties, disruption or unwelcome consequences. En français : On ne fait pas d'omelette sans casser des œufs. How is it used? Use this proverb when a useful change involves an unavoidable downside. Just as making an omelette requires breaking eggs, progress sometimes comes at a cost. It can sound dismissive if used to excuse harm or brush aside someone's concerns. Useful pattern: [An unwelcome consequence], but you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs. SEE IT IN CONTEXT 1 The kitchen renovation will be noisy, but you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.   2 The new software will take time to learn. Still, you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.   3 Closing the bridge for repairs will disrupt traffic, but you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs. QUICK CHECK A town closes its library for a month to improve access and add study rooms. Someone uses this proverb. What do they mean? A. The improvements will prevent any further disruption. B. The improvements involve some temporary inconvenience. C. The improvements depend on keeping every room open. D. The improvements will leave the current facilities unchanged. Answer: B. The temporary closure is an unwelcome consequence of making the library better. YOUR TURN Complete the sentences, then give your own example: The changes will ________, but you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs. We will have to ________ if we want to ________. Describe a situation where this proverb would be appropriate. Reply to this email with your own sentence. I read every reply. Hear the proverb in real English → Listen to several speakers. Notice that omelette has two syllables: OM-let. EXPLORE FURTHER WordReference  •   Linguee  •   Cambridge Dictionary  •   Reverso Context Enjoyed this lesson? Share it by email  •  Subscribe Unsubscribe  •  View online © November 2026 Rethabile Masilo • Ret's Word of the Day