disguise

blessing in disguise

Fig. something that at first seems bad, but later turns out to be beneficial. Tony's motorcycle accident was a blessing in disguise, because he got enough insurance money from the other driver to make a down payment on a house. Dad's illness was a blessing in disguise; it brought the family together for the first time in years.

See also: blessing

disguise someone or something as someone or something

to dress or make someone up to appear to be someone or something. We disguised the child as a witch. We disguised Gerald as a pumpkin.

disguise someone in something

to conceal someone's identity in a costume or makeup. We disguised her in men's clothing and got her across the border. She disguised herself in a clown suit.

in disguise

hidden behind a disguise; looking like something else. Santa Claus was really the little child's father in disguise. What I thought was terrible turned out to be a blessing in disguise!

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be a blessing in disguise

to be something which has a good effect, although at first it seemed that it would be bad or not lucky Losing my job turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it forced me to think carefully about my future.

See also: blessing

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a blessing in disguise

something that at first appears to be bad or unlucky but is actually good Losing my job was a blessing in disguise - I never would have found this one if it hadn't happened.

See also: blessing