No hay mal que por bien no venga

Something good came out of it

ES

Example

Me echaron del curro, pero oye, encontré otro mejor: no hay mal que por bien no venga.

When to use it

Your friend gets fired but then finds a better job a week later, and you try to cheer them up about the whole mess.

What it means

Literally "There's no bad (thing) that doesn't come for good."
In practice It means that even if something sucks, it may bring an unexpected benefit later (like a silver lining). You say it to reframe a setback and calm someone down, not to deny that it was unpleasant. It's a classic, old-school proverb used across the Spanish-speaking world, and it can sound a bit "wise" or mom/dad-like depending on tone.

Don't confuse it with

"No hay mal que por bien no venga" does not mean it will get worse before it gets better, bad luck always follows me, nothing ever changes. It specifically means "Something good came out of it".

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En faire tout un fromage

To exaggerate the importance of something

FR

Example

C'est bon, on a oublié de t'appeler une fois, pas la peine d'en faire tout un fromage.

When to use it

A friend gets angry because you're five minutes late, and you find it disproportionate.

What it means

You start with something simple and turn it into a complex, elaborate product that takes time to make: cheese. In practice, it's dramatizing, making a huge deal out of nothing. A very French expression, often said with annoyance: 'stop making a whole cheese out of it.'

Don't confuse it with

"En faire tout un fromage" does not mean to change the subject quickly, to put someone on the spot, to complain without a good reason. It specifically means "To exaggerate the importance of something".

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Be snowed under

To be overwhelmed with too much work

EN

Example

Sorry for the late response-I've been snowed under all week.

When to use it

Your coworker asks why you haven't replied to their email and you explain your schedule is packed.

What it means

Literally it means being buried under snow so you can't move.
In practice it means you're overwhelmed with work, tasks, or responsibilities-so busy you can barely breathe. It's especially common in UK English and often used at work to explain slow replies. It doesn't usually mean you're emotionally overwhelmed, more that your workload is massive.

Don't confuse it with

"Be snowed under" does not mean being ignored by everyone around you, feeling bored with nothing to do, having to wait a long time for news. It specifically means "To be overwhelmed with too much work".

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July 21, 2026

No hay mal que por bien no venga

En faire tout un fromage

Be snowed under