Phrase guide

what you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts

proverb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

proverb

Meaning 1

There are both gains and losses in life; you win some, you lose some.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Hungarian: amit nyer a réven, elveszti a vámon — there are both gains and losses in life
  • Polish: jakiejkolwiek decyzji byśmy nie podjęli, to zyski i straty będą takie same — there are both gains and losses in life
  • Spanish: lo comido por lo servido — there are both gains and losses in life