Dictionary

double-edged en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) Of a blade, such as a sword or knife, sharp on both edges.
2. (comparable, figuratively) Beneficial and harmful at the same time; assisting or contributing in one manner while also creating risk or negative consequences.
   • Slander is a double-edged weapon: you can hurt the reputation of another but it diminishes your own reputation that you debase yourself so much.

Forms

Coordinates

single-edged

Deriveds

double-edged sword

Relateds

cut both ways

Translations (42)

it a doppio taglio (figuratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous) · pl obosieczny (figuratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous) · de zweischneidig (figuratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous) · nn tviegga (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · fi kaksipiippuinen (figuratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous) · pl dwusieczny (figuratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous) · nn tviegga (figuratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous) · nb tveegget (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · el αμφίστομος (figuratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous) · fr à double tranchant (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · hy երկսայրի (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · nb toegga (figuratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous) · el αμφίστομος (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · hy երկսայրի (figuratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous) · nb tveegga (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · ru обоюдоо́стрый (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · pt de dois gumes (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · nb toegga (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · nb tveegget (figuratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous) · pl dwusieczny (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · da tveægget (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · mi huarua (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · he חֶרֶב פִּיפִיּוֹת (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · nb toegget (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · nb tveegga (figuratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous) · ro cu două tăișuri (figuratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous) · el δίκοπος (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · pl obosieczny (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · bg с две остриета (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · es de doble filo (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · ang twieċġede (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · de zweischneidig (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · az ikiağızlı (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · nb toegget (figuratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous) · grc ἀμφήκης (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · ang twieċġe (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · fi kaksiteräinen (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · la anceps (figuratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous) · sv tveeggad (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · ro cu două tăișuri (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · it a doppio taglio (a blade that is sharp on both edges) · bg двуостър (a blade that is sharp on both edges)