背せに腹はらは替かえられぬ

expression

you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs; a small sacrifice may be necessary to solve a more pressing problem

Proverb meaning that to deal with a greater problem, one must sometimes endure a lesser loss or sacrifice. Literally 'you can't replace your belly with your back' — the belly (vital) cannot be sacrificed for the back (less vital).

See also: 背に腹は変えられない

• 背せに腹はらは替かえられぬから、多た少しょうの出しゅっ費ぴは仕し方かたない。

  You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs, so some expense is unavoidable.

• 背せに腹はらは替かえられぬというように、彼かれは嫌いやな仕し事ごとも引ひき受うけた。

  As the saying goes, a small sacrifice may be necessary; he took on the unpleasant job.