a blessing in disguise

Meaning

Something that seems bad at first but later has a good result.

Examples

1. Losing that job was a blessing in disguise. It pushed me to start my own business. US UK
2. The delay turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because we found the mistake in time. US UK
3. At the time, the rejection felt terrible, but it was a blessing in disguise. US UK

How to use it

Use it when you look back at a bad event and see its good result. It often appears with turn out to be or prove to be. It is not used for things that are good from the start.

Common mistake

Not: Winning the lottery was a blessing in disguise.
Say: Missing the train was a blessing in disguise. (The idiom needs something bad at first.)