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Idiom: Give with one hand, take away with the other
Have you ever heard the phrase give with one hand, take away with the other?
It’s used when someone gives you something good but then takes something away at the same time, so the gift feels less valuable.
In short, it means doing something generous for someone, only to take something back.
For example, if your boss gives you a raise but also adds so much work that you have to work overtime, that’s a classic case of giving with one hand, taking away with the other.
The phrase also fits when governments offer new benefits while raising taxes, so you don’t really gain anything.
In that situation, the government is giving with one hand, taking away with the other.
Of course, the government advertises the giving and ignores the taking, creating an illusion of gain among the population.
Here are some ways you might use give with one hand and take away with the other in everyday life.
You could say, “My phone company lowered my monthly bill but added extra junk fees.
They always give with one hand, take away with the other.
Or if a friend helps you but then asks for a big favour, you might say, “She tends to give with one hand, take away with the other.”
Remember, give with one hand, take away with the other, fits the situation when a good action is balanced out by something negative.
We all need to accept a little give and take in life, but if you see someone or a group do something nice and then make it less meaningful, you can say they give with one hand and take away with the other.
This phrase is useful for talking about situations that seem unfair or disappointing.
Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test
This post is understandable by someone with at least a 7th-grade education (age 12).
On the Flesch-Kincaid reading-ease test, this post scores 75.
The easier a passage is to read, the higher the score on a scale of 0 – 100.
