Every medal has its reverse.
Every medal has its reverse.
Meaning in plain English
A choice or situation usually has more than one aspect. Look beyond its attractive face to understand the drawbacks, limits or obligations that accompany it.
Example
A larger flat offers more space but brings a longer commute and higher heating costs. The tenant considers the whole arrangement before signing.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
A medal has a reverse as well as the face first presented. The image encourages a person to turn a matter over mentally before making a judgment. A benefit may come with upkeep, a responsibility or a cost that is less obvious at first. Exploring these aspects helps make a decision more deliberate. It does not require finding something wrong with every good event. The purpose is to understand the complete arrangement, including features that enthusiasm or presentation may leave out.
When to use it
Use it to examine an option’s less visible aspects.
Keep in mind
Some benefits have few drawbacks. Do not manufacture a negative simply to make both sides appear balanced.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (1857)
Printed page 13; French section, paragraph 250; source wording: Chaque médaille a son revers.
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗