roundabout

Related to roundabout: roundabout way

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

say (something) in a roundabout (sort of) way

To imply or convey something in an indirect, vague, or evasive manner. I wish you would stop saying things in such a roundabout way and just make your point! Well, he didn't promise it to me outright—he said it in a roundabout sort of way.
See also: roundabout, say, way

swings and roundabouts

A situation in which certain gains, advantages, or other positive aspects or outcomes are offset or balanced by equally disadvantageous losses, setbacks, or negative outcomes (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. The government needs to be wary of the swings and roundabouts of a slight surplus in the budget, because many problems can follow on the heels of unfettered increases in spending.
See also: and, roundabout, swing

what you lose on the swings, you gain on the roundabouts

proverb The losses, setbacks, or negative aspects of a certain situation are offset or balanced by equally advantageous or positive elements, or vice versa. (The formation of the phrase can also be reversed.) 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—what you gain on the swings, you lose on the roundabouts. People here complain about the high level of taxes, but what you lose on the swings, you gain on the roundabouts—if I were to go into the hospital tomorrow for a major operation, I wouldn't pay a thing.
See also: gain, lose, on, roundabout, what
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

say something in a roundabout way

to imply something without saying it; to say something indirectly; to speak using circumlocution. Why don't you say what you mean? Why do you always say something in a roundabout way? What did she mean? Why did she say it in a roundabout way?
See also: roundabout, say, way
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

swings and roundabouts

BRITISH
If you say that a situation is swings and roundabouts, you mean that there are as many advantages as there are disadvantages in it. There are good and bad points to both approaches — it's swings and roundabouts. You pay less for a property that's out of town but then, you pay more for petrol when you're travelling to work and back. Note: This expression comes from the proverb what you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts. People sometimes use the full form of the proverb, or a variation of it. The United States will gain far more on the swings than it loses on the roundabouts.
See also: and, roundabout, swing
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

swings and roundabouts

a situation in which different actions or options result in no eventual gain or loss. British
This expression comes from the proverbial saying you lose on the swings what you gain on the roundabouts .
1983 Penelope Lively Perfect Happiness I have always reckoned on a fair share of that— swings and roundabouts, rough with smooth.
See also: and, roundabout, swing
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

ˌswings and ˈroundabouts

(British English, informal) used when you want to say that gaining one thing usually means losing another thing: Higher earnings mean more tax, so it’s all swings and roundabouts. What you gain on the swings you’ll probably lose on the roundabouts.
Swings and roundabouts are both types of equipment found at a fairground.
See also: and, roundabout, swing
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • it's swings and roundabouts
  • 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
And because vehicles move slower within and when entering and exiting the roundabout, both drivers and pedestrians have a better chance to react to avoid collisions.
Circular Logic: Why Roundabouts?
Those going to Karen will use Globe Cinema Roundabout, Kipande and Ojijo Roads, Waiyaki Way, James Gicheru Road.
Major roads to be closed on Sunday for Standard Chartered Marathon
"That's really the beauty of the roundabout. As things change, as the traffic increases or as it decreases, it really handles that ebb and flow much better than a signal does."
Street Roundabouts Gaining Acceptance, Converts in State: With Conway leading the way, more cities adopting the design
For the basic framework of the Poisson model, the probability P([y.sub.i]) of a roundabout i having [y.sub.i] accidents is presented in
An Investigation of the Safety Performance of Roundabouts in Korea Based on a Random Parameters Count Model
Roundabouts to benefit locals THE plans to remove the Llanfairfechan and Puffin Roundabouts on the A55 Expressway shown at the Dwygyfylchi Village Hall on Saturday were quite interesting and a large number of local people attended throughout the day.
Roundabouts to benefit locals; LETTERS
Summary: Here's 9 tips on how to avoid an accident at roundabouts
Watch: How to enter roundabouts
| Widening the road into the Cobalt park from the northern access roundabout to provide two southbound lanes.
Roundabout rundown; OVERNIGHT LANE CLOSURES PLANNED AS WORK STEPS UP AT HOLYSTONE ROUNDABOUT
Holystone roundabout work is due to finish in "early 2018"
Scheme improves safety and reduces congestion
Since August, the team has been carrying out preparatory work at the site including clearing the roundabout and making alterations to the layout of the junction ahead of main construction work.
A19 Silverlink roadworks: What work has taken place so far to create triple-decker roundabout? We bring you an update on the multi-million pound project that has been underway in North Tyneside since August; We bring you an update on the multi-million pound project that has been underway in North Tyneside since August
The landmark Dandelion Fountain will now feature on the front of Kevin's latest calendar, Best of British Roundabouts 2017.
Glorious fountain is worth a round trip!
Motorists who are travelling alone on the southbound M606 are now able to travel onto the eastbound carriageway of the M62 at junction 26 using the 2+ lane, avoiding the roundabout and traffic lights.
ROADWORKS HAVOC HITS M62 JUNCTION; Drivers urged to avoid Chain Bar roundabout
The Bromford Lane/A47 roundabout in the north east of the city saw nine crashes, injuring a total 11 people, while there were seven crashes at Hockley Circus, injuring a total of 15 people.
Roundabout blackspot
It reveals that the Langmuir Road/Coatbridge Road/ Gartcosh Road roundabout in Bargeddie - along with Sheriffhall roundabout near Edinburgh and the Bellfield Interchange in Kilmarnock - were the worst for accidents in the country, with five taking place at each.
Roundabout is accident black spot
In fourth was the roundabout between Murdishaw Avenue and the Southern Expressway in Runcorn, according to the study by CheshireLive.
Cheshire's most dangerous roundabouts revealed in traffic accident league of shame; Three tied for the top spot in Cheshire and were responsible for a combined total of 18 accidents and injuries
It was followed by the Western Avenue-Hanger Lane roundabout in Hanger Hill, nearEaling.
London's most dangerous roundabouts revealed; Redbridge Roundabout near Ilford has been named Britain's most dangerous