“You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.”

What does it mean?

When you try to do something great, you’ll probably make a few people annoyed or angry. Don’t worry about those people; just focus on the good results.

Where does it come from?

This saying was said by François de Charette. He was one of the leaders of a Royalist counter-revolt in the Vendée region of France during the French Revolution. The War in the Vendée, as it’s now known, lasted several years and resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands. In March of 1796, Charette was captured by republican forces and put on trial, during which, according to Walker’s account:

What does faux pas mean?

It’s a slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct; an embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion.

How do you pronounce it?

\ˈfō-ˌpä, fō-ˈ\

or

Where does it come from?

The expression faux pas comes from France, where it means “false step”, “misstep” (in a physical as well as a figurative sense). It has been used in English for over 300 years. Synonyms in English include gaffe and (social) blunder.

How do you use it?

Arriving too early would be a serious faux pas.

According to an oft-told story, the queen set a guest at ease about a faux pas by politely imitating it.