I just watched the movie The apartment (by Billy Wilder, 1960) and hear the main character say:
That's the way it crumbles, cookie-wise
I kind of understand it as "that's life", as someone would say while sighing. But I wonder: what is the origin of it? Am I right about its meaning?
Best Answer
According to A Dictionary of Catch Phrases, American and British...by Eric Patridge,
That's the way it crumbles, cookie-wise meaning:
An early usage example is from the "Michigan Courthouse Review" 1951:
Ngram shows usage of the depression from the mid 50's.