Reference meaning
double-edged sword
Last updated
A benefit that is also a liability, especially a benefit that carries some significant but not-so-obvious cost or risk.
Other meanings
2. noun
A neutral principle that has applications that may be either positive (beneficial) or negative (adverse) to one's own interests.
3. noun
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see double-edged, sword.
Source and scope
This definition is reproduced from English Wiktionary, sense en-double-edged_sword-en-noun-en:benefit_with_costs, under the CC BY-SA 4.0. It has not yet received VocabularyBase editorial review. Read the source and license details.