idiom

every cloud has a silver lining

EV-ree KLOWD haz uh SIL-ver LY-ning

ˈɛvri klaʊd hæz ə ˈsɪlvər ˈlaɪnɪŋ

Listen

Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.

everycloudhasasilverlining

Every difficult or negative situation has some positive aspect or potential for good; optimism is warranted even in hard times

Derives from 17th-century poetic imagery of the sun's light behind clouds; popularized by John Milton's Comus (1634)

Losing the contract was painful, but every cloud has a silver lining — it freed us to pursue better clients.
She reminded her team that every cloud has a silver lining even as the project fell apart.

Get a word, name or idiom like “every cloud has a silver lining” in your inbox — daily or weekly, free. Unsubscribe any time.