it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good

English

Alternative forms

• it's an ill wind (by ellipsis)
• it's an ill wind that blows nobody good
• it's an ill wind that blows no good
• it's an ill wind that blows no one any good

Proverb

it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good

1. An action or occurrence must be very bad indeed if it brings no benefit to anyone.

Translations

even a very bad situation must have some good results

• French: à quelque chose malheur est bon (fr)
• Irish: ní thig olc i dtír nach fearrde duine éigin
• Spanish: no hay mal que por bien no venga (es)

References

• “it’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “it’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good, proverb” under “wind, n.¹”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.