double-edged

English

Adjective

double-edged (comparative more double-edged, superlative most double-edged)

1. (not comparable) Of a blade, such as a sword or knife, sharp on both edges.
2. (comparable, figuratively) As dangerous for the user as the one it is used on.

   Slander is a double-edged weapon: you can hurt the reputation of another but it diminishes your own reputation that you debase yourself so much.

Coordinate terms

• single-edged

Derived terms

• double-edged sword

Translations

a blade that is sharp on both edges

Armenian: երկսայրի (hy) (erksayri) Bulgarian: двуостър (dvuostǎr) Danish: tveægget French: à double tranchant (fr) German: zweischneidig (de) Greek: αμφίστομος (el) m (amfístomos), δίκοπος (el) m (díkopos) Ancient: ἀμφήκης (amphḗkēs) Hebrew: חֶרֶב פִּיפִיּוֹת (he) f (ẖérev pifiyót) Italian: a doppio taglio Maori: huarua Norwegian: Bokmål: tveegget, tveegga, toegget, toegga Nynorsk: tviegga Old English: twieċġe, twieċġede Polish: obosieczny (pl), dwusieczny Portuguese: de dois gumes Romanian: cu două tăișuri Russian: обоюдоо́стрый (ru) (obojudoóstryj) Spanish: de doble filo Swedish: tveeggad (sv)

figuratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous

Armenian: երկսայրի (hy) (erksayri) German: zweischneidig (de) Greek: αμφίστομος (el) m (amfístomos) Italian: a doppio taglio Norwegian: Bokmål: tveegget, tveegga, toegget, toegga Nynorsk: tviegga Polish: obosieczny (pl), dwusieczny Romanian: cu două tăișuri

See also

• cut both ways