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# a blessing in disguise

phrase (idiom; noun phrase: a blessing in disguise, blessings in disguise)

«a blessing in disguise» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good.
2. (euphemism, spin) a way of making a loss or failure sound positive.

### In the lessons

Common in all regions and all registers, from chat to news. Mostly honest comfort («losing that job was a blessing in disguise»), but also used to spin bad news or to comfort someone too quickly.

### Examples

- Missing the bus was a blessing in disguise — I met my best friend at the stop.
- The rain was a blessing in disguise; the match was cancelled and we had pizza instead.
- Losing the job turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
- The coach called the defeat a blessing in disguise because it showed the team's weak spots.
- Spokesperson: «The closure may prove a blessing in disguise for the town.»
- Don't tell me it's a blessing in disguise — I'm still upset!

### Note

It describes how things turned out, so it is usually said afterwards. Said straight after someone's loss it can sound cold. Not a real disguise: «in disguise» means hidden.