the flip side of the coin
Meaning: The opposite, usually less pleasant, aspect of something.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “Working from home is flexible; the flip side of the coin is that you never switch off.”
Category: Daily Life
Origin: A coin has two faces; "the other side of the coin" is found from the 20th century, and "flip side" (from the B-side of a record) was added in the mid-20th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Le revers de la médaille — literally: The reverse of the medal
More idioms — Daily Life
- a den of thieves — A place full of dishonest people.
- in the arms of Morpheus — Asleep.
- take someone at their word — To believe someone, or to act on exactly what they said.
- money makes the world go round — Money is what drives everything.
- cut the Gordian knot — To solve a complicated problem with a bold, simple action.
- pick a fight — To deliberately start an argument or fight.
More English idioms
- the eighth wonder of the world — Something extraordinary, often said ironically.
- talk the hind legs off a donkey — To talk endlessly.
- in someone's good books — In favor with someone.
- an eye for an eye — Punishment should match the injury; revenge in kind.
- scream blue murder — To protest very loudly.
- send someone packing — To dismiss someone abruptly.
From our tongue twisters
- She sells seashells by the seashore. — The definitive 's' versus 'sh' alternation — the tongue has to switch place of articulati…
- Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. — A relentless 'p' plosive drill; a peck is an old dry measure of about nine litres.
- Unique New York. — Three words that jam the 'y/n/k' sequence together — repeat it and it collapses into 'you…