# a boon and a bane

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/a-boon-and-a-bane
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Something that is both a benefit and an affliction.

## Examples

- The internet is a boon and a bane for students.
- Working from home is a boon and a bane, offering flexibility but making it hard to disconnect from work.
- The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence remains a boon and a bane, promising unprecedented efficiency while threatening to displace countless workers.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.