necessary evil
noun1
Idiomatic An unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted, especially because the available alternative courses of action or inaction would be worse.
- Another punishing round of chemo is a necessary evil if Lisa is to have a fighting chance against the cancer.
- My boss is a real piece of work, but my kids make keeping this job a necessary evil.
2 more examples
- Architecturally the stations of the Tonbridge-Hastings line are of great interest. Wadhurst, Robertsbridge and Stonegate are of simple Italinate^([sic]) style, unspoiled by that necessary evil of a platform awning.1957 August 23, H. P. White, “The Tonbridge-Hastings Line and its Traffic”, in Railway Magazine, page 529:
- But today, with more lineside furniture and infrastructure, the potential for problems to arise is greater. The impact of clearing overgrown greenery is a necessary evil that must be tackled - for a variety of reasons.2025 October 29, Ryan Hall, “Hubble prevents toil and trouble”, in RAIL, number 1047, page 38:
- Related terms
- you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs