Where did the saying "The Proof is in the Pudding" come from?

The proof is in the pudding

Meaning: The end result or finished product is determines success or failure.

Example: Although we've made great progress arranging the party, the proof is in the pudding.

Origin: This is an abbreviated version of the term "the proof of the pudding is in the eating". To the British, pudding means the same as dessert in the US. The point of the term is that one cannot determine how good a dessert will be during preparation or based on appearance. How good a dessert will be can only be determined by the final taste.

According to Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, the phrase dates back to at least 1615 when Miguel de Cervantes published Don Quixote. In this comic novel, the phrase is stated as, "The proof of the pudding is the eating."

Word Detective and the American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms note that the phrase came into use around 1600. However, a bulletin board quotes The Dictionary of Cliches, which dates the phrase to the 14th century. The board also mentions a 1682 version from Bileau's Le Lutrin, which read, "The proof of th' pudding's seen i' the eating." A page of pudding definitions from the Oxford English Dictionary also cites the author Boileau (Bileau) as the first to use the phrase. So it seems likely that the phrase dates back to the 1600s, though the identity of its author is disputed.

These days, some people shorten the phrase to simply "proof of the pudding." Even the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language trims it down. Occasionally, it is even further abbreviated to "proof in pudding," irritating purists who argue that the shortened versions don't mean anything on their own. Let's just hope it doesn't get further reduced any time soon. "Proofpudding" just doesn't cut it.

Good question, didnt know that, im learning too!!!!

The original phrase was "The proof of the pudding is in the eating", and it is ancient indeed--dating back to at least the year 1300. However, in the 20th century it was corrupted into the form you quote by newspaper writers who could only half-remember the original. There is an article, that I have listed as a source, which goes into greater detail.

it dates back to 1615 when Don Quixote was written. It originated as ‘the proof of the pudding is in the eating.’ Either version though gets its’ point across that results are the only way to judge the true value of something.

Because when you make pudding, it has to be proofed, to see if done.

It's a good phrase. Means essentially "we'll see." The only way to know will be after experiencing it.

Good question, and what in the world does it mean?

i really don't know but all i know is it's saying the evidence is there to support the theory

I never heard of it...