swings and roundabouts

A situation in which certain gains, advantages, or other positive aspects or outcomes are offset or balanced by equally disadvantageous losses, setbacks, or negative outcomes (or vice versa). Primarily heard in UK. This promotion has meant I can provide for my family much more easily, but it's so demanding that I don't see them all that much—it's swings and roundabouts, really. The government needs to be wary of the swings and roundabouts of a slight surplus in the budget, because many problems can follow on the heels of unfettered increases in spending.

See also: and, roundabout, swing

swings and roundabouts

BRITISH

If you say that a situation is swings and roundabouts, you mean that there are as many advantages as there are disadvantages in it. There are good and bad points to both approaches — it's swings and roundabouts. You pay less for a property that's out of town but then, you pay more for petrol when you're travelling to work and back. Note: This expression comes from the proverb what you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts. People sometimes use the full form of the proverb, or a variation of it. The United States will gain far more on the swings than it loses on the roundabouts.

See also: and, roundabout, swing

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

swings and roundabouts

a situation in which different actions or options result in no eventual gain or loss. British

This expression comes from the proverbial saying you lose on the swings what you gain on the roundabouts .

1983 Penelope Lively Perfect Happiness I have always reckoned on a fair share of that— swings and roundabouts, rough with smooth.

See also: and, roundabout, swing

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

ˌswings and ˈroundabouts

(British English, informal) used when you want to say that gaining one thing usually means losing another thing: Higher earnings mean more tax, so it’s all swings and roundabouts. ♢ What you gain on the swings you’ll probably lose on the roundabouts.

Swings and roundabouts are both types of equipment found at a fairground.

See also: and, roundabout, swing

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

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References in periodicals archive

It's certainly proving to be a case of swings and roundabouts as she strangely has not been suspended from Fine Gael.

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Still, they also gave the woman who played Mrs Weasley in so many Harry Potter films a liquorice wand, so swings and roundabouts.

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THE big reshuf-fle at Northumberland County Council has always seemed something of a swings and roundabouts scenario.

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I get that United fans are upset but when he's on a third of the dough Craig Levein was, it's probably swings and roundabouts how the money's spent anyway.

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"It's swings and roundabouts. I guess it's about who is strongest.

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IT'S only weeks It's only days before The excitement starts And streets and windows Come alive with Christmas cheer The bears and clowns The buskers the shoppers All seem to hit town Around the Monument Things move fast What a cast what a show As the people pass What shall we see What shall we buy Do we need it Can we afford it As the people pass Another year has nearly Gone by It's been rough It's been smooth It's been a rush So many jobs won and lost The pressures been on And people have laughed and cried It's been swings and roundabouts Looking at the windows of fashion Are we all better off Do we put the heating on Or off and cook a hot meal Fenwicks window plays its part As we walk past With some good and bad news.

POEM OF THE DAY; Fenwick's Window

The area to the right of the picture was a asphalted area which contained swings and roundabouts, which gave us alternative activities if we got bored with ball games.

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We all pay our Council Tax but we all do not use the same amenities so the council paying for bins is swings and roundabouts.

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Swings and roundabouts then when it comes to this explosive stage adaptation of the legendary double album by The Who.

best night out

Perth (Australia), May 21 (ANI): The current leader of the Australian pace attack, Mitchell Johnson, believes that he has England cricket captain Andrew Strauss's number.ohnson, who understands the intricate principles of swings and roundabouts, reckons the Poms will experience difficulties in handling the Australian pace attack.

Oz pacer Johnson believes he has Strauss's number