mixed blessing

American  

noun

1. something that, although generally favorable or advantageous, has one or more unfavorable or disadvantageous features.

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mixed blessing British  

noun

1. an event, situation, etc, having both advantages and disadvantages

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mixed blessing Idioms  

1. Something that has both good and bad features, as in Being accepted by the college was a mixed blessing, since she couldn't afford the tuition. [First half of 1900s]

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Etymology

Origin of mixed blessing

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mixed blessing

The single bright spot and mixed blessing to come out of all this is that her neighbors see Diarra as the go-to person for fixing lost causes and finding lost people.

From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026

That kind of sudden, enormous demand surge is a mixed blessing.

From Barron's ● Feb. 25, 2026

It’s the mixed blessing of still being close to where you’re from, yet sung with a wisp of yearning.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 22, 2026

The results are a "mixed blessing" for Beijing, said trade policy analyst Deborah Elms from the Hinrich Foundation.

From BBC ● Jan. 14, 2026

In my own case, studying under the auspices of the University of London was a mixed blessing.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela