# cut both ways

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/cut-both-ways
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To have both benefits and drawbacks.

## Examples

- Working from home can cut both ways.
- Having a flexible schedule is nice, but it can cut both ways if you struggle to separate work from your personal life.
- The new policy regarding remote work cuts both ways, offering employees greater autonomy while simultaneously complicating the maintenance of a cohesive corporate culture.

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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.