every cloud has a silver lining

idiom

Meaning

Good things come after bad things

Origin

first recorded 17th c. disputed origin

From John Milton's Comus (1634): 'a sable cloud / Turn forth her silver lining on the night'; the proverb form developed in the 19th century.

Examples

SIMPLE

I lost my job, but every cloud has a silver lining.

CONTEXTUAL

The flight was cancelled, but every cloud has a silver lining because we spent a lovely extra day exploring the city.

COMPLEX

Although the business failed, every cloud has a silver lining as the experience taught him the skills necessary to succeed in his next venture.

Last updated June 7, 2026