Definition
A hopeful or comforting aspect of an otherwise unpleasant situation; the positive side of something bad. The phrase suggests that even difficult circumstances have some redeeming quality.
Example Usage
Losing my job was devastating, but the silver lining was that I finally had time to pursue my passion for writing.
Origin
From the metaphorical image of dark clouds having a bright edge lit by the sun behind them, popularized by 17th-century poetry.
Fun Fact
The phrase 'every cloud has a silver lining' became famous after John Milton's 1634 work 'Comus' featured similar imagery.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
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See “Silver Lining” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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