that’s the way the cookie crumbles
that’s the way the cookie crumbles
Meaning
- no matter how unfair the situation is, it must be accepted
- to accept something or a situation fully
- to be able to take the negatives of a situation just the way positives are accepted
Example Sentences
- The manager was fired from his job after making such a huge mistake, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.
- I have not looked back on the past since I moved out of my parents’ house because that’s the way the cookie crumbles.
- The man knows that that’s the way the cookie crumbles and he will be fine.
- I learnt that that’s the way the cookie crumbles when I was in school and have been able to take care of myself.
- I know it is unfair but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.
Origin
The phrase has originated in the French language as “C’est la vie” or such is life. It is said to be from the 18th century but has been publicized tremendously in the movie “Bruce Almighty” starring Jim Carey and Jennifer Aniston. Cookie was introduced in the phrase from the popular snack crumbling if it is not consumed in time, which somehow connects with life and being able to accept the bad end of something sweet.
Synonyms | Variants
- that’s how the cookie crumbles
- that’s just the way the cookie crumbles
Share your opinions5 Opinions
I have always assumed “That’s the way the cookie crumbles” refers to accepting with a shrug whatever is written on the little note inside a fortune cookie.
‒ John U. March 27, 2024
In a still black-and-white episode of The Avengers Emma Peel says this to John Steed: “Sic friat crustulum – that’s the way the cookie crumbles”.
‒ Iris February 23, 2024
In the Twilight zone, season 3, episode 20 the narrator says that at the end of the episode.
‒ Stef January 21, 2022
In fact, I just watched The Apartment, from 1960, black and white movie with Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon, and at some point he says “that’s just the way it crumbles, cookiewise” long before Bruce Almighty. 🙂
‒ Rosana H. Efraim November 26, 2020
When I was young (1940’s) , whenever my mother made a summer pudding which had to be upturned to come out of the dish, the person who was sitting facing the place where the pudding broke always was served first. I always assumed that was the origin of the phrase!
‒ Peter January 17, 2019