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non tutte le ciambelle riescono col buco

/non ˈtut.te le tʃamˈbɛl.le rjeʃˈku.no kol ˈbu.ko/
proverb★Intermediate◆proverb
◆ What It Really Means
Not everything will go perfectly; some things won't work out as planned.
¶ Literal Meaning
Not all doughnuts come out with a hole in the middle during baking.
Literal Breakdown
non tuttenot all+le ciambellethe doughnuts+riescono col bucocome out with the hole
◇ Mental Image
The mental image is of doughnuts being baked, with some coming out perfectly with a hole in the middle and others not.
◈ When to Use
A friend is upset because they didn't get a promotion at work. You might say 'Non preoccuparti, non tutte le ciambelle riescono col buco' to comfort them.
◉ Cultural Note
This proverb reflects the Italian cultural value of accepting imperfection and not being overly disappointed when things don't go as planned. It's similar to the English 'You can't win them all' or 'Not all that glitters is gold'.
informal

Not everything will go perfectly; some things won't work out as planned.

Non preoccuparti, non tutte le ciambelle riescono col buco.

Don't worry, not everything will go perfectly.

Ha fallito l'esame, ma non tutte le ciambelle riescono col buco.

He failed the exam, but you can't win them all.

💡

This proverb is often used to comfort someone after a disappointment or failure.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

non tutto il male viene per nuocereproverb
Not all bad things happen for a bad reason
chi non risica non rosicaproverb
Nothing ventured, nothing gained

💡Pro Tip

When to use this proverb

Use this expression when someone is disappointed about something not working out, to remind them that not everything can be perfect.

⚡Gold Rule

Proverb usage

This is a fixed expression that should not be modified. It's used to comfort or console someone about a minor disappointment.

📖Word Origin

The phrase originates from the observation that not all doughnuts (ciambelle) come out with a perfect hole in the middle during baking. It has been used metaphorically in Italian since at least the 20th century to express that not everything will go as planned.

📝Usage Notes

This is a common Italian proverb used to express acceptance of imperfection and to comfort others when things don't go their way. It's often used in casual conversation when someone is disappointed about something not working out.

Word Breakdown

non tutte
not all
phrase
+
le ciambelle
the doughnuts
phrase
+
riescono col buco
come out with the hole
phrase
Dizionario Italiano-Inglese

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