phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions at

Swings and round abouts

Posted by Shae on January 19, 2004

In Reply to: Swings and round abouts posted by James Fox on January 19, 2004

: Does anyone know the origin of "swings and round abouts" and what it means. If two people are arguing and an onlooker says oh, it's like swings and round abouts with them two, what does it mean?

SWINGS AND ROUNDABOUTS: This is a shortened version of the fairground proverb 'What you lose on the swings you win on the roundabouts', current from the beginning of the twentieth century in various forms. It is used to mean that things will balance out in the end. Penguin Dictionary of Cliches.

© 1997 – 2024 Phrases.org.uk. All rights reserved.