double-edged sword

[ duhb-uhl-ejd-sawrd ]

/ ˈdʌb əlˈɛdʒd ˈsɔrd /

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noun

a sword whose blade has two cutting edges: This game character wields a wide double-edged sword to slice an enemy in two, armor and all, with brute strength.

something whose desirable effects are necessarily accompanied by undesirable ones: Studying from home is a double-edged sword—you can roll out of bed at 10 a.m. and attend class in your pajamas, but you can skip class with equal ease.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of double-edged sword

First recorded in 1580–90

Words nearby double-edged sword

Double Dutch, double-duty, double-dyed, double eagle, double-edged, double-edged sword, double-ended, double-ended bolt, double ender, double entendre, double entente

How to use double-edged sword in a sentence

And Ollie says, ‘Oh, I see, well, let me have two double vodka martinis.’
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A few weeks after returning from England, I was trolling the dairy section and came across the Cotswold Double Gloucester.
Biking With the Bard|Kara Cutruzzula|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He went on to say that even such double horrors had never kept cops from continuing on.
Two Cops ‘Assassinated’ in Brooklyn|Michael Daly|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Faced with the loss of middle class voters, the administration seems determined to double down on its current coalition.
Time to Bring Back the Truman Democrats|Joel Kotkin|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Albuquerque Economic Development, a private non-profit, estimates the five year growth rate at almost double the U.S. in general.
After The Fall: Introducing The Anti-Villain|Rich Goldstein|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Under the one-sixth they appear as slender, highly refractive fibers with double contour and, often, curled or split ends.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
In treble, second and fourth, the first change is a dodge behind; and the second time the treble leads, there's a double Bob.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing|Richard Duckworth and Fabian Stedman
The men, whose poniards his sword parried, had recourse to fire-arms, and two pistols were fired at him.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
Whatever you do, don't write a word to that Carr friend of yours; he's as sharp as a two-edged sword.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
All things are double, one against another, and he hath made nothing defective.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various