cut both ways—have a mixed effect; have both favorable and unfavorable results:
- In the Griese family, father and son are both cool, which cuts both ways.
have it both ways—
1. have both of two incompatible things or situations:
- We all want to have it both ways: take frequent days off, but still have plenty of money.
2. (sl.) have both homosexual and heterosexual tastes (also: walk both sides of the street):
- People who have it both ways are seldom lonely.