ill wind that blows no one any good, it's/'tis an

it's an ill wind that blows no one any good

proverb Even the most negative or harmful situations usually benefit someone. Thus a situation that benefits no one must be truly bad (and rare). The rain caused flooding, but it may help the farmers. It's an ill wind that blows no one any good.

See also: any, blow, good, ill, no, one, that, wind

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

ill wind that blows no one any good, it's/'tis an

Someone or other usually benefits from a misfortune or loss. This expression appeared in John Heywood’s 1546 proverb collection and several of Shakespeare’s plays. Today it remains current, often shortened simply to an ill wind. Laurence McKinney punned on it in People of Note (1940), saying of the notoriously difficult oboe, “It’s an ill wood wind [sic] no one blows good.”

See also: any, blow, ill, no, one, that, wind

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer