cut two ways
IDIOM
▼ ادامه توضیحات دیکشنری؛ پس از بنر تبلیغاتی ▼
Idiomscut two wayscut both/two waysto have two different effects at the same time, usually one good and one bad.
Censorship cuts both ways; it prevents people from being corrupted, but it often also prevents them from knowing what is really going on. (never in continuous tenses)
[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲
cut two ways• cut both/two ways
1. to serve both sides of an argument
What the man said cuts both ways and we should carefully think about it.
2. to be capable of having two opposite effects, to produce advantages and disadvantages
My decision to complain to our boss could cut two ways and cause him to be happy or angry with me.
[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲
cut two waysSee: CUT BOTH WAYS.
{v. phr.} To have two effects; cause injury to both sides.
People who gossip find it cuts both ways. [TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲