Definition of swings and roundabouts in English:

phrase

• A situation in which different actions or options result in no eventual gain or loss.

  Example sentences

  • ‘It's a case of swings and roundabouts where prejudice is concerned.’
  • ‘It's all about swings and roundabouts at the end of the day, and although we would like to see more volume everybody finds themselves in the same position.’
  • ‘But surely it is a case of swings and roundabouts.’
  • ‘My individual record this season has been pretty good as I've certainly won more than I've lost, but like any sport it's all swings and roundabouts.’
  • ‘It tends to be swings and roundabouts really - sometimes I will be busy writing and other times I concentrate on designing websites.’
  • ‘It's a game of swings and roundabouts but there's not a bookie in the business who would claim to be behind at the moment.’
  • ‘Given that the council makes something like in excess of £2 million from off-street car parks, and that income has gone up, I think there's an element of swings and roundabouts.’
  • ‘Then again, I don't pay for bandwidth, so I guess it's swings and roundabouts really.’
  • ‘I don't want to have to, but it's swings and roundabouts.’
  • ‘But it is swings and roundabouts, and we have spent some fairly miserable weeks digging rain-swept car parks and damp, dark caves.’