For example, consider the following:  Knives are a [blank], because they can either be used as a tool or a weapon.  I don't think &quot;double-edged sword&quot; is appropriate in this context because that idiom implies the object is simultaneously helpful and harmful. I'm instead, searching for a word or phrase to describe something that is either helpful or harmful depending on how it is used.
78829
Take this scenario:     a tool has a specific feature that could be regarded as an invaluable benefit for. However, this feature, if used in opposite direction may be counterproductive. In other words, the strength point may be the weakness point.   For example, feature X of a security mechanism could be leveraged to break that if used maliciously. So, what's the word/phrase to describe this feature? I think it should be something other than Achilles heel.
73457
I can't recall the name of the rhetorical scheme or literary device involved with using the same word more than once within the same sentence but with different meanings:  "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."    fear - verb fear - noun   "Turn right right here."   right - adv. directional right - adv. in this place   "My feet are but feet away."   feet - noun lower appendage feet - noun distance
58011
What is a single word, or phrase, for something that necessarily causes both harm and benefit? For example, a coal-fired power plant will harm human health through air pollution, but will bring electricity and economic development to a poor area.
26798
What word or phrase could be used to describe a joke about something serious or bad? It isn't meant as humor in the typical sense, but as sort of a brave, different flavor of humor between two friends. Something that isnt actually funny, and could be really bad, but I choose to joke about it to dismiss fear. Between two people that accept life's events, and understand being morbid isn't going to change the matter at hand. For example:  "So we found out more about that chest problem my sister got checked for."  "So how long does she have?"
58917
It could be a noun or an adjective, and either could describe a person or an action. For example:  "Did you hear Eric's wedding toast? He wouldn't shut up!"  "I know, he was being a complete _______"
79645
I am thinking there could be an idiom that states that you or someone revealed a secret unintentionally? Can you think of an idiom like that? I am looking for an idiom I can use to write a blog post about the recent incident where Secretary Pompeo unintentionally revealed the dirty secrets behind the CIA.
2623
I am having trouble working out whether the following two uses of practice should be the verb (-ise) or the noun (-ice). Can anybody please help clarify?   Every single member of our staff practices/practises discipline A practiced/practised workforce   I am interested in an answer based on UK English.
16318
In Polish, and I believe in a number of other European languages, there is an idiomatic expression which translates to "to force a door which is already open". It is used to describe a situation when much effort is spent on solving a problem which has already been solved, or did not exist in the first place. For example, if someone was doing research to answer a question which has already been answered, one would be said to be "forcing an open door". The same would apply to a person who is arguing a point that everyone already agrees with.  As far as I am aware, this phrase does not carry similar meaning in English. (Or does it?). Hence, I would like to know if there is an idiom with similar meaning? If not, is there a succinct way to describe such situations?
28235
In the quote in the title, "of" refers both to the material that makes up the cup and to the stuff that the cup holds. I remember reading that there is a literary device that describes this, but I can't remember what it's called. The device, if I remember correctly, refers to the parallel structure of a phrase whereby a thing is described in two aspects or, as in this case, an aspect and a function. Shakespeare commonly used it, though I can't think of a quote.   Syliva Plath uses it in the line:     I am silver and exact   to refer to a mirror--what it's made from and how it does its job.  Could someone tell me what this structure is called.
6249
I'm thinking similar to a , but you could break the word at a different or multiple places.  Granted I cannot think of a real-world example, but I have included two situations where this has happened.  If I had a domain name that was photospork.com, this could be interpreted as:   photo + spork, a gallery of a cutlery collector's obsession with sporks, or photos + pork, a culinary site dedicated to showing users the best cuts of pork.   Another example is when I named a work project toolscore, which can again be represented as either:   tools + core, to represent the core component of the tools, or tool + score, to show the highest score reached using that tool.
112258
As is, it sounds a bit awkward to me.  Let me try to incorporate what I am after into a sentence. Just as Bush once said "If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator.", I would like to write something along these lines: "Double standard does not bother me for as long as I am the one engaging in/doing it".  It does not quite roll off the tongue. Hopefully there is a better way.
16639
It's on the tip of my tongue.  Example: "Replacing the hard drive of this computer would be [idiom]. It's going to fail completely soon enough."
106791
I am finding an example to clearly differentiate and demonstrate the use of these two words. At the moment, I am relying more on my feelings to decide which word to use. Say I am writing an article that talks about a solution or framework, should I say:   It is a general solution to kill computer virus. It is a generic solution to kill computer virus.   I want to show that the framework is normal, does it job, nothing fancy and that's about it. If the two sentences above are correct, what are the perceived meaning of each sentence?
52376
Sometimes, others just inform us about things without us asking them, other times they do not do that even if we ask them. I want a verb for when others do not give us information — whether because they do not like to or they just don't give it, but we cannot directly ask them to — but we actively extract the information from them sometimes without them being aware of it.   So the word I am looking for shouldn't be only for cases where we coerce or force others to give us information, and it shouldn't be only for cases where others do not like to give us information.  Example:     I needed that information. But I couldn't ask her for it, or most   probably she would not give to me even if I asked her. So, I ....   the information I wanted.   It could be a phrasal verb and so not just a single word, but I couldn't devise a  blank suitable for all possibilities!   Two verbs I've already had but I think are not suitable:  to give someone the third degree   To prize something from/out of somebody
63249
There's a word I thought I knew at some point, but can no longer remember what it was.  I tried looking up various thesaurus websites to no avail.  Similar words to what I'm looking for, but not quite:   Elaborate: too neutral -- I'm looking for a more negative connotation. Elucidate: too positive a connotation. Ruminate: The direction is correct, but it is about "thinking about something in too much detail" vs actually describing it so. Describe ad nauseum: 3 words, and awkward sounding.   Example sentence: "He began to __ the topic"  To clarify, I'm looking for a verb.
43580
What does this phrase mean? And in what cases is it appropriate to use it?
10043
This feeling can often be paralyzing in that you see valid points on either side; makes you not able to choose a side.  Seeing can also be understanding, supporting, taking active part in.  I'm looking for words that don't imply a "Janus"/traitor tone or the ambivalence tone, but the (property of the) process that precedes the paralyzing feeling and whose property is more reminiscent of walking a mile in another man's shoes.  Tag says single-word but multi-word adjectives can be okay. I usually shy away from just adding -y to make adjectives.  Sorry for the vague wording, I'll happily take suggestions on how to word this better. Thanks! :)  Usage: "And above all, I hope __ will become the preferred method to prepare for debate, to: ..."  It's a two-sided process of analysis involving attacks and reconciliations of attacks.  I was hoping for an established academic term for this, but perhaps none exist. I will embrace an inventive new word for this! This is a paper for peer review, so the meaning should be apparent to academics.