背せに腹はらは変かえられない

expression, i-adjective

you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs; sometimes you must sacrifice a small thing for a greater need

Proverb meaning that in an emergency or when facing a bigger problem, you may have to give up something less important. Literally: 'You can't substitute the belly for the back.'

• 背せに腹はらは変かえられないから、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.

• 締しめ切きりに間まに合あわせるためには、背せに腹はらは変かえられないと割わり切きって、細さい部ぶを犠ぎ牲せいにした。

  To meet the deadline, I accepted that you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs and sacrificed the details.