silver lining en · NOUN
Etymology
Originating in John Milton's poem Comus; see the quotation from 1634. The proverb every cloud has a silver lining is an allusion to the relevant passage.
Meanings
-
(figuratively) A favorable aspect or prospect of a mostly unfavorable event or situation.
The only silver lining for businesses and local residents was that there was at least an end in sight, and that the new station, once built, would enhance the area and provide improved east-west access for pedestrians.
2025 February 19, Chris Howe, “Euston: a work in progress”, in RAIL, number 1029, page 45:Was I deceived, or did a sable cloud / Turn forth her silver lining on the night? / I did not err: there does a sable cloud / Turn forth her silver lining on the night, / And casts a gleam over this tufted grove.
1634, John Milton, Comus:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| silver linings | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Antonyms
worm in the apple · downside · sticky wicket · drawback
Relateds
every silver lining has a cloud · silver plate · blessing in disguise · every cloud has a silver lining · God works in mysterious ways
Synonyms
eucatastrophe · bright side · on the plus side
Translations (30)
kw amal arghans (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · fi hopeareunus (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · de Silberstreifen (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · sv ljusglimt (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · ru све́тлая сторона́ (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · ru луч наде́жды (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · de Lichtblick (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · cs světlo na konci tunelu (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · pt lado bom (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · da solstrejf (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · ro but see parte bună (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · cs paprsek naděje (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · de gute Seite (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · de Silberstreif (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · es resquicio esperanzador (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · ru свет в конце тоннеля (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · da lyspunkt (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · pl promyk nadziei (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · ru хорошая новость (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · pl iskierka nadziei (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · th ฟ้าหลังฝน (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · pl płomyk nadziei (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · gl lado bo (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · ro aspect pozitiv (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · hu jó oldala (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · cmn 利好 (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · it risvolto positivo (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · cmn 有利的一面 (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · cs světlá stránka (a good aspect of a mostly bad event) · sv ljuspunkt (a good aspect of a mostly bad event)