it's swings and roundabouts

it's swings and roundabouts

The losses, setbacks, or negative aspects of a certain situation are cancelled out or balanced by equally advantageous or positive elements (or vice versa). Primarily heard in UK. This promotion has meant I can provide for my family much more easily, but it's so demanding that I don't see them all that much—it's swings and roundabouts, really. People here complain about the high level of taxes, but it's all just swings and roundabouts, because if I were to go into hospital tomorrow for a major operation, I wouldn't pay a thing.
See also: and, roundabout, swing
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • roundabout
  • what you lose on the swings, you gain on the roundabouts
  • swings and roundabouts
  • on the credit side
  • on the credit side (of the ledger)
  • on the plus side
  • on the something side
  • on the upside
  • on the bright side
  • to windward of
References in periodicals archive
We will pick up three points where we don't deserve to and we will drop points where we probably deserved to win, so it's swings and roundabouts.
Just like the old days
It's swings and roundabouts. Or just roundabouts and roundabouts.
Rotherham going round in circles
"It's swings and roundabouts. I guess it's about who is strongest.
Hamilton delivers big blow; FORMULA ONE
"We got a point we probably didn't expect against Portugal, so it's swings and roundabouts but we'd rather be sitting here with two home wins.
Brunt eyes home Win
"We got a point we probably didn't expect to have when we drew in Portugal, so it's swings and roundabouts, but we'd rather be sitting here with two wins from the home games.
Irish are aiming for home comfort
"We all know that it's swings and roundabouts. Sometimes you go out and play and miss lots, the next time you nick the first ball you play a bad shot to," the 30-year-old said.
Trott warns against complacency in Lord's Test
"It's swings and roundabouts," said Cope, "but I think we can give a good account of ourselves.
Cope is looking for a knockout repeat; FA TROPHY
It's swings and roundabouts at work, but roundabouts make you sick and swings are just as bad so what's the answer?
David wells
"It's swings and roundabouts. I'll learn from my mistake and hopefully it won't happen again.
Sam hit by 12-day ban
"I was only out of the team through getting an injury myself, but it's swings and roundabouts and that's how it happens."
Craddock is happy to help
The drugs budget was underspent, "so it's swings and roundabouts," she trilled.
STOTTY: HEWITT'S DODGY MEDICINE
Elsewhere, it's swings and roundabouts on the romance front.
Soaps: Caught out! Coronation St
However, Moore said: "We only won by a neck last year so I suppose it's swings and roundabouts," he said.
RACING In Brief: Swings and roundabouts
But it's swings and roundabouts. The one I bought would have lost the previous owners pounds 46,000.
Figures of fun!
"It's swings and roundabouts but nothing to go over the top about.
Sturrock stung by Old Firm hate mail