double-edged sword

Definitions

1. A benefit that is also a liability, or (a benefit) that carries some significant but not-so-obvious cost or risk.
   figuratively
2. A neutral principle that has applications that may be either positive (beneficial) or negative (adverse) to one's own interests.
   figuratively
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see double-edged, sword.

Equivalents

Examples

“He added: “Facebook is a double-edged sword. You don’t want⟳ to support⟳ it, but you have⟳ to use⟳ it in order⟳ to reach⟳ a large audience.””

“The double-edged sword of movie stardom remains the same as it ever was: when a persona is so fixed in the public mind⟳, it's what people love⟳ you for, and it becomes difficult to deviate from.”

“Of course, social media is a double-edged sword, and the opportunity for passengers to communicate their feelings to media teams is not always a happy one.”

““Nuclear weapons are becoming part of the international conversation again and that’s a double-edged sword. I’m glad they are, but this is because nuclear risks are rising,” […]”

“The unintended ambiguity of the phrase was a double-edged sword: it spurred litigation but it also ended up shielding good-faith actors.”

CEFR level