two-edged sword
Blade with drawbacks
A two-edged sword cuts both ways—literally a blade sharpened on both sides, but almost always used figuratively for something that has both favorable and unfavorable consequences.
Technology is a two-edged sword: it connects us but also isolates us.
Social media proved a two-edged sword for her campaign.
Also double-edged sword.
Exchange requiring sacrifice
- catch-22Paradoxical no-win situation
- two-sidedWith opposite surfaces
- dichotomyDivision into contrasting parts
- ambivalenceConflicting emotions coexisting
boomerang · backfire · irony · counterpoint · polarity · antithesis · juxtaposition · tension
State of perplexity
- predicamentDifficult, unpleasant situation
- conundrumPerplexing problem or question
- bindFasten or obligate
- impasseSituation without resolution
crossroads · choice · decision · trade-off · compromise · calculus · weighing · balance
Yield unintended consequences
- blowbackUnintended negative consequences
- backlashStrong negative reaction
- repercussionIndirect result of action
- ramificationSecondary consequence of action
fallout · consequence · unintended · rebound · ricochet · unforeseen · liability · pitfall
trade-off
Exchange requiring sacrifice
- catch-22Paradoxical no-win situation
- two-sidedWith opposite surfaces
- dichotomyDivision into contrasting parts
ambivalence · boomerang · backfire · irony · counterpoint · polarity · antithesis · juxtaposition · tension · complexity
quandary
State of perplexity
- predicamentDifficult, unpleasant situation
- conundrumPerplexing problem or question
- bindFasten or obligate
impasse · crossroads · choice · decision · trade-off · compromise · calculus · weighing · balance · gambit
backfire
Yield unintended consequences
- blowbackUnintended negative consequences
- backlashStrong negative reaction
- repercussionIndirect result of action
ramification · fallout · consequence · unintended · rebound · ricochet · unforeseen · liability · pitfall · peril
drawback
Unfavorable feature or flaw
handicap · hindrance · impediment · liability · cost · price · toll · wound · cut · injury
advantage
Favorable position or circumstance
gain · strength · leverage · power · potency · utility · effectiveness · weapon · tool · resource
two-edged swordwin-win
Advantageous to both sides
silver bullet · godsend · slam dunk · no-brainer · panacea
two-edged swordsafe bet
Likely winning wager
sure thing · risk-free · harmless · fail-safe · low-hanging fruit
two-edged sworduncomplicated
Easy to understand
clear-cut · black and white · cut and dried · no strings attached · simple
sword, edge, edged, twos, swords, edges, edging, twelve, twenty