mixed blessing: meaning and explanation
If you say that something is a mixed blessing, it means that something has positive and negative aspects, advantages as well as disadvantages.
It is often used to point out that something which people assume is a very good thing also has some drawbacks or negative aspects. e.g. The new rail development may turn out to be a bit of a mixed blessing for the village. It will be much easier to get to London, but noise pollution is likely to increase. For this reason, this expression would usually be used with a slightly negative meaning.
Have a go at these micro-dictation exercises to hear this expression being used in context – how much can you understand?
Listening exercises
Dictation #1
Accent: North America
About the sentence
…apparently it can actually be a mixed blessing…
Apparently is used to introduce an idea or opinion which you have heard from someone else. You are saying that it may not be true, but it is interesting.
It is often used when you are gossiping, e.g. Apparently, Michael’s been having an affair for the last 2 years.
Dictation #2
Accent: Northern England
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Dictation #3
Accent: Scotland
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Extra practice
Here are some questions/links to help you learn the new vocabulary:
- Can you think of an example of something which is generally assumed to be a very good thing, but which might actually be a mixed blessing?
- Do you agree with the speaker in the first dictation, who thinks that winning the lottery might be a mixed blessing?
An example of a mix blassing may be social media. Lately, it´s being said that even though they’re usefull to connect people in this digital age, they also used to spread baseless lies and distorted facts which may bring about harmful efectss on our societies and democracies. So, apparently, social media may be one of those things to be a mixed blessings.
About the second question, I think that what easy comes, easy goes. I’ve heard of some people who have won the lottery and ended up in worse poverty.
Perhaps because they haven’t seen such a huge amount of money that they go crazy and start spending and spending the whole money.
Another reason, in my personal point of view, is that as they haven’t worked hard to get that money, they don’t really care much about spending it in trivial things.
Sorry I got wrong in some sentences. I meant:
An example of a mixed blessing may be social media.
they’re also used to spread baseless lies and distorted facts
they don’t really care much about spending it ON trivial things. Other corrections are wellcome. Thanks! nice job!
Really good examples, and excellent English – your vocabulary is fantastic
I think you’re right about the lottery. I think people becoming rich suddenly can paradoxically end up making them poorer in the long run. I think in this country, lottery winners are given the option of accepting all the money in one go, or receiving it in smaller amounts every month for the rest of their lives (almost like a salary). Maybe the latter option would be safer, but definitely less exciting.
Apart from your corrections, I have a few others to make (mainly spelling)
– usefull should be useful
– efectss should be effects
– wellcome should be welcome
– I would say: “what comes easily, goes easily”.
Thanks!
Thank you very much. Yes, you’re quite right, what comes easily, goes easily. The correct word I should have used is ‘easily’ because as any adverb it conveys the idea of HOW money come and go. Beside, adjectives give information about a noun, not about verbs. Thanks for all the corrections.
Useful, welcome, effects, easily!
un ejemplo podrĂa ser vivir con los padres, seria muy agradable pero seria como tener dependencia de ellos en todo aspecto.
Perfect example of a mixed blessing Walter – and thanks for giving me some Spanish practice đŸ˜€
con respecto a ganar la loteria si puede ser una bendiciĂ³n mixta puesto que estarĂas bien econĂ³micamente pero podrĂas volverte ambicioso
Totally agree Walter – winning the lottery could definitely change your personality.
Well, agree about lottery absolutely. And my example of mixed blessing is living in a big city đŸ™‚
And thanks for all your feedbacks – appreciate what you do
Many teenagers think that living by themselves is better than living with their parents, but I think it’s a mixed blessing. In one hand you have more privacy and freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want, but on the other hand, you have a lot of responsabilities to deal, scuh as bills, bills and bills to pay
About winning the lottery… well if you know how to manage all the money, advantages will come and the money might last for years. If you spend everything, you will enjoy the prize for a short period, but you’ll have some fun anyway
Great examples Aline, well done đŸ™‚
Careful with ‘on the one hand’.
Also, for this meaning you need to use deal with – “you have lots of responsibilities to deal with”.