every cloud has a silver lining
proverbUS [eːvɹi kʰlɑʊd hæz ə sɪlvɚ laiːnɪŋ]
Etymology See entry for silver lining.
1
There is something good in any bad situation.
- Every cloud has a silver lining; but in the old-fashioned meeting-houses every cloud of hymnal melody generally had a nasal lining before the congregation […]1881, National Academy of Code Administration (U.S.), Folio, page 417:
- […] that "a little reserve and thou'lt fail surely," will prove to be true in our experience. Every cloud has a silver lining and so has every sorrow, […]1887, Shakers, Religion, page 36:
2 more examples
- But the most popular attitude toward what we may call "sad" plays is the peculiar one of believing that, since every cloud has a silver lining, […]1918, George Jean Nathan, Performing Arts, page 222:
- Patrick O'Brien: No hard feelings? I've been falsely accused, had the crap kicked out of me, now I have no job. Gene Hunt: Look on the bright side. Still got your health. So, you know, every cloud.2007 March 6, Julie Rutterford, Life on Mars, Season 2, Episode 3:
- Related terms
- every silver lining has a cloud, every dark cloud has a silver lining, the darkest hour is just before the dawn, every rose has its thorn, April showers bring May flowers, necessary evil, blessing in disguise, it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good