Meaning & use
two-edged sword
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phrasefigurative
Something that has both a good and a bad effect, so it can help you but also cause problems.
Grammar: Usually used as a singular countable phrase: 'It's a two-edged sword.' The plural is 'two-edged swords.'
Patterns
- a two-edged sword
- be a two-edged sword
- something is a two-edged sword for someone
Social media is a two-edged sword: it connects people but also spreads false information.
The new law is a two-edged sword for small businesses.
Her fame was a two-edged sword, bringing both opportunities and constant pressure.
Word forms
| plural | two-edged swords |
|---|
Common combinations
- a double-edged sword
- The internet is often described as a double-edged sword.
- be a two-edged sword
- Having a lot of choices can be a two-edged sword.
- prove a two-edged sword
- The policy proved a two-edged sword for the government.
Synonyms and how they differ
- mixed blessing
- A mixed blessing is something good that also has disadvantages; it is close in meaning but often less dramatic.
- double-edged sword
- This is the more common variant and means exactly the same thing.
Commonly confused: two-edged sword or double-edged sword?
two-edged sword vs double-edged sword
These are variants of the same idiom; 'double-edged sword' is more frequent in modern English.
Practice
The new tax cut is a ______ sword: it helps families but reduces funding for schools.
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'a two-edged sword' (or 'a double-edged sword'). 'Two-edge' and 'double-edge' are not used as adjectives before 'sword' in this idiom.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “two-edged sword”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.