phrase🎓 English idiom

a blessing in disguise

a good thing that seemed bad at first

What it means

Something that at first seems bad or unfortunate but later turns out to be good or beneficial. It's used in hindsight, when a setback ends up bringing an unexpected advantage.

Examples

  • Losing that job was a blessing in disguise; I found a better one.
  • Missing the train turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
  • Her illness was a blessing in disguise that made her slow down.
  • The breakup felt awful, but it was a blessing in disguise.

Where it comes from

The phrase dates to the 18th century, appearing in James Hervey's writings around 1746, expressing the idea that hardships can carry hidden good fortune.

Related idioms

#every cloud has a silver lining#the best of both worlds#out of the blue#a long shot

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