a blessing in disguise

a blessing in disguise

Meaning

• misfortune which turns out to have advantages
• good outcome from evil situation
• an unfortunate event that later leads to an advantageous situation
• an apparent misfortune that eventually results in a positive outcome
• something that is bad at first, but later results in something good
• a misfortune that unexpectedly turns into good fortune

Example Sentences

1. Losing that job turned out to be a blessing in disguise for him as it forced him to plunge into business.
2. When Pete fractured his knee, it was a blessing in disguise, for he got some much needed rest and a break from his hectic work life and refocused on some important things in his life.
3. Failing in his exams was a blessing in disguise, for he realized that he was not enjoying his course and decided to try out something else.
4. Missing the train was a blessing in disguise, for we would have been on it when it met with an accident, killing many of it's passengers.
5. When her boyfriend dumped her, it was a blessing in disguise for Susan, for otherwise she would never have met the man who is now her husband.
6. Alice's car breaking down was a blessing in disguise for her; if it hadn't, she could have been in the middle of that huge multi car pile up that happened on her way to work.

Origin
This phrase originated in the mid 1700s. The earliest usage in print was in the 1746 book “Reflections on a Flower-Garden” by James Hervey.