Also:
That’s how the cookie crumbles
That’s just the way the cookie crumbles
Meaning of Idiom ‘That’s the Way the Cookie Crumbles’
That’s the way the cookie crumbles means that’s the way things often turn out; that’s the way things are (and nothing can be done about it); that’s exactly what one would expect to happen. 1,2
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Usage
That’s the way the cookie crumbles is used in a situation that is unpleasant, unfortunate, or undesirable and which are considered unalterable or unchangeable.
Examples Of Use
“Do you really think Allison is going to move to France?” asked Ron. “That’s about the size of it, said Ken.” “I wish she wouldn’t leave,” said Ron. “Well, that’s the way the cookie crumbles,” said Ken.
“I hear the factory is closing despite what the boss claimed,” said Frank. “That’s how the cookie crumbles,” replied Chuck.
“This snow is going to keep going all night and I have an important meeting in the morning. Isn’t that just the way the cookie crumbles?”
Origin
This chiefly American idiom has been used since the mid-1900s. It alludes to how easily a cookie will crumble and to the fact that, once it has, it cannot be put back together. 3
More Idioms Starting with T
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- I Could Murder (A Food/Drink)
- Go Pear-shaped
- Chopped Liver
- Low-Hanging Fruit
- Know Which Side Your Bread is Buttered On
More Way Idioms
References- Ayto, John. Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms. Oxford: Oxford U, 2010.
- Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth M. The Wordsworth Dictionary of Idioms. Ware: Wordsworth, 1995.
- Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.