double-edged sword

English

A pair of literal double-edged swords.

Etymology

From the notion that two sides of the same blade are sharp — it cuts both ways. Its origin is from the same Arabic expression سيف ذو حدين (sayf zou hadayn, “double-edged sword”). The term is first attested in the 15th century. It is not to be confused with a double-ended sword.

Noun

double-edged sword (plural double-edged swords)

1. (idiomatic) A benefit that is also a liability, or that carries some significant but non-obvious cost or risk.

Synonyms

• two-edged sword

Translations

idiomatic

• Arabic: سيف ذو حدين (ar) (sayf ḏū ḥadayn) m
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 雙刃劍 (cmn), 双刃剑 (cmn) (shuāngrènjiàn) (a double-edged sword)

• Czech: dvousečný meč (cs) m (a double-edged sword)
• Danish: tveægget sværd (da) n
• Dutch: tweesnijdend zwaard (nl) n
• Finnish: kaksiteräinen miekka (fi)
• French: arme à double tranchant (fr) f
• German: zweischneidiges Schwert (de) n
• Hebrew: חרב פיפיות (he) (kherev pipiyot) f
• Italian: arma a doppio taglio (it) f

• Japanese: 諸刃の剣 (ja) (もろはのつるぎ, moroha no tsurugi) (a double-edged sword)
• Korean: 양날의 검 (ko) (yangnar-ui geom) (a double-edged sword)
• Malay: serampang dua mata (ms)
• Polish: miecz obosieczny (pl) m
• Portuguese: faca de dois gumes (pt) f (a knife with two edges)
• Romanian: sabie cu doua taisuri (ro) f
• Russian: палка о двух концах (ru) (pálka o dvux koncáx) f  (a stick with two ends), обоюдоострый меч (ru) (obojudoóstryj meč) m  (a double-edged sword)
• Spanish: arma de doble filo (es) f (a double-edged weapon), arma de dos filos (es) f (a double-edged weapon)
• Swedish: tveeggat svärd (sv) n

See also

• Midas