double-edged sword

[duhb-uhl-ejd sawrd]

noun

1. 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.

2. 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of double-edged sword¹

First recorded in 1580–90

Example Sentences

AI, he says, is a double-edged sword for the economy, as it has both “the potential to weaken employment further while boosting productivity gains.”

Read more on Barron's

But the kudos was a double-edged sword for Gyngell, who left the cafe a year after the award, saying she was frustrated by customers who expected a traditional Michelin experience at her rustic cafe.

Read more on BBC

That’s been a double-edged sword, Gayed added—Nvidia’s rise has lifted the market, but the same dynamic can trigger broader volatility, as we saw today.

Read more on Barron's

"It's a double-edged sword as these service providers need to be large to provide the scale and global reach required by big brands. But when they fail the impact can be significant."

Read more on Barron's

The fuel shortage is a double-edged sword for the government, headed by coup leader Colonel Assimi Goïta.

Read more on BBC