Phrase guide

the cat would eat fish but would not wet her feet

proverb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

proverb

Meaning 1

In order to achieve something, it is inevitable and necessary that some sacrifices be made.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: no pain, no gain, you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs, you don't get something for nothing, you've got to crack a few eggs to make an omelette

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: ei makaavan kissan suuhun hiiri juokse — some sacrifices must be made for something to be achieved
  • Greek: αν δεν βρέξεις κώλο, ψάρι δεν τρως (an den vréxeis kólo, psári den tros) — some sacrifices must be made for something to be achieved
  • Russian: хо́чется ры́бку съесть, да не хо́чется в во́ду лезть (xóčetsja rýbku sʺjestʹ, da ne xóčetsja v vódu leztʹ) — some sacrifices must be made for something to be achieved
  • Spanish: quien quiera peces, que moje el culo — some sacrifices must be made for something to be achieved