the cure is worse than the disease en · X
Etymology
From Latin aegrescit medendo (literally “it worsens with healing”) attributed to Virgil in book XII of the Aeneid.
Meanings
- The medical treatment for an illness produces a worse net result than the illness does (or threatens a non-negligible risk of doing so), especially via adverse effects.
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(figuratively) The solution or proposed solution to a problem produces a worse net result than the problem does (or threatens a non-negligible risk of doing so), especially via unintended consequences.
Regarding the repeal of the Glass-Steagall act and other repeals of financial regulations, or even in legislating new financial regulations, you have to be careful that the cure is not worse than the disease.
2014-06-11, Robert Johnson The Real News Network
Translations (9)
fi lääke on pahempi kuin tauti (The solution to a problem produces a worse net result) · pl rozwiązanie pogarsza sprawę (The solution to a problem produces a worse net result) · es el remedio es peor que la enfermedad (The solution to a problem produces a worse net result) · pt a emenda sair pior que o soneto (The solution to a problem produces a worse net result) · fr le remède est pire que le mal (The solution to a problem produces a worse net result) · pt pior a emenda que o soneto (The solution to a problem produces a worse net result) · vi chữa lợn lành thành lợn què (The solution to a problem produces a worse net result) · az qaş düzəltmək əvəzinə göz çıxarmaq (The solution to a problem produces a worse net result) · es es peor el remedio que la enfermedad (The solution to a problem produces a worse net result)