Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

swings and roundabouts

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.56 in modern English

Syllables: swings and round-abouts
IPA

28

Scrabble Score

20

Letters

2

Syllables

12

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Gains and losses that offset each other.

Australian usage; British usage

Example Sentences

"If, in order to save money, you never buy a parking ticket, you are more likely to get fined, so it's all swings and roundabouts really."
"Whether we pick up Mary first and then John or John first and then Mary is a matter of swings and roundabouts."

Usage

Australian usage
British usage

Phrases

what you gain on the swings you lose on the roundabouts what you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts snakes and ladders twists and turns

Frequently Paired Words

what you gain on the swings you lose on the roundabouts what you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts snakes and ladders twists and turns

Questions

What does swings and roundabouts mean?: Gains and losses that offset each other.

How to pronounce swings and roundabouts

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