swings and roundabouts
Gains offset losses
Swings and roundabouts expresses that advantages and disadvantages balance out—what you lose in one area, you gain in another.
British in origin, from the idea that a fairground operator might lose money on the swings but make it back on the roundabout.
It's swings and roundabouts—the new job pays better but the commute is longer.
- give and takeMutual concession between parties
- snakes and laddersDice-based board race
- pros and consFavorable and unfavorable points
- ups and downsAlternating good and bad
- pushForce something away
turnabout · one step forward, two steps back · back and forth · carousel · trade-off · balance · wheel of fortune · quid pro quo · what goes around comes around · circle · compromise · even-steven · break-even point · balancing act · opportunity cost · ebb and flow · flip side · double-edged sword
swings and roundaboutswindfall
Unanticipated lucky gain
jackpot · total loss · net loss · net gain · bonanza
swings and roundaboutssure thing
Guaranteed outcome or agreement
foregone conclusion · certainty · clear-cut · black and white · straightforward
swings and roundaboutswin-win
Advantageous to both sides
lose-lose · no-brainer · slam dunk · best of both worlds · worst of both worlds
swing, round, about, swings, rounds, rounded, rounder, roundest, rounding