necessary evil

English

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Noun

necessary evil (plural necessary evils)

  1. (idiomatic) An unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted, especially because the available alternative courses of action or inaction would be worse.
    Another punishing round of chemo is a necessary evil if Lisa is to have a fighting chance against the cancer.
    My boss is a real piece of work, but my kids make keeping this job a necessary evil.
    • 1957 August, H. P. White, “The Tonbridge-Hastings Line and its Traffic”, in Railway Magazine, page 529:
      Architecturally the stations of the Tonbridge-Hastings line are of great interest. Wadhurst, Robertsbridge and Stonegate are of simple Italinate[sic] style, unspoiled by that necessary evil of a platform awning.

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