Explaining "You cannot unscramble eggs."

Reviewed and edited by

Anwar Kareem 17/11/2024, 03:56

English.me team member

What does it mean?

The phrase means that certain actions or changes cannot be undone, similar to how you cannot separate and return eggs to their original state after scrambling them.

Tone

The tone is often cautionary or resigned, emphasizing irreversibility.

Origin

The phrase is a metaphor based on the literal impossibility of separating and reversing the mixing process of an egg once it has been scrambled.

Examples of usage

Once you've shared the confidential information, it's like you've scrambled the eggs; you cannot unscramble them.
The merger is complete and cannot be undone; you cannot unscramble eggs.