British, American & Australian, informal, American, informal

something that you say which means that bad things sometimes happen and there is nothing you can do to prevent it, so it is not worth becoming upset about it.

I can't believe they chose Sam for the job and not me. Ah well, that's the way the cookie crumbles.

• spare someone's blushes
• spark plug
• sparks fly
• speak for
• speak for itself
• speak for someone
• speak for something
• speak for themselves
• speak for yourself
• speaking as
• speaking as someone
• speaking of
• speaking of something
• speak mind
• speak of
• speak of the devil
• speak out
• speak out of turn
• speaks for
• speaks for itself
• speak the same language
• speak too soon
• speak up
• speak volumes
• speak with a forked tongue