the proverbial "Catch-22" where one is damned if one does, and one is damned if one doesn't.
"Corporate lay-offs are a double-edged sword. The company saves money by not having as many salaried people on board, but has to pay more overtime wages to the fewer people that are left so the work can be done by deadline."
by Alexandra July 27, 2004
Get the double edge sword mug.
Proverb used to convince one of not using a weapon (literal or figuritive) because it may come back and hurt yourself. Rather useless especially with the fact that one can learn how to use a double edge sword (literal or figuritive) effectively.
George: single edge sword is better to use cuz it wont cut you
Bob: A skilled swordsman can use any sword.

Jill: Anger is a double edge sword, it hurts you as well.
Jack: I've been using anger for 8 years and I haven't changed a bit.
by the Q-ist December 31, 2005
Get the double edge sword mug.
a double edge sword is simply sword with two sharp sides, often it was used on broad swords, it is often believed of by people that broad swords are these long, straight swords, that look something like this
______
==|------->
¯¯¯¯¯¯
but that actually qualifies as a double edge sword
no example needed, the definition is self explanitory
by Trevor July 23, 2004
Get the double edge sword mug.
"Double edge sword" is a silly overused proverb that makes little sense.
Everything is a double edge sword orig. double-edged sword. Nothing isn’t a double edged sword. Even a single-edged sword is a double-edged sword. Because you can cut something with it, but the other end is kind of flat and doesn’t really cut well. It’s kind of a double-edged sword.

-- Louis CK
by zhtw December 14, 2015
Get the double edge sword mug.
Something that can be both an advantage and a disadvantage.
Using this tool will make the job faster, but also more dangerous, it's a bit of a double-edged sword
by Superfast Jellyfish October 26, 2015
Get the double-edged sword mug.
Twice the cutting power! (Cem)
A Double-Edged sword can cut with both sides
by johnquagmyre June 24, 2019
Get the Double-Edged sword mug.