From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishtwo-edgedˌtwo-ˈedged adjective 1 ADVANTAGEhaving two effects or meanings, one good and one bad a two-edged commenta two-edged sword (=something that has as many bad results as good ones) Strong leadership is a two-edged sword.2 DThaving two edges that can cut a two-edged blade
Examples from the Corpus
two-edged• The individualism identified by Olson and others is, however, two-edged.• Its blade was two-edged, and made of heavy bronze, the grooves chased like lotus stems.• It was a two-edged sword of obligations of favors given and favors to be returned at a later, appropriate time.• But it was a two-edged sword.• But the way Compaq does it creates a two-edged sword.• In a sense, the flattening of businesses in Workplace 2000 is a two-edged sword.• This sounded like an improvement on the statusquo, but it turned out to be a two-edged sword.• If ever fame and wealth proved two-edged swords, they do here.a two-edged sword• But it was a two-edged sword.• But the way Compaq does it creates a two-edged sword.• In a sense, the flattening of businesses in Workplace 2000 is a two-edged sword.• The public understanding of science is a two-edged sword.• This sounded like an improvement on the statusquo, but it turned out to be a two-edged sword.• The Audit Commission can, therefore, be something of a two-edged sword in the context of central-local relationships.• The policy is a two-edged sword - it saves money but angers staff.• It was a two-edged sword of obligations of favors given and favors to be returned at a later, appropriate time.• Reductions in taxation are therefore a two-edged sword, when used as a device to create jobs. 