表达 “a blessing in disguise” 的字面意思是 “一件伪装成坏事的好事”,它指 “最初看似消极的事情却产生了意想不到的积极结果”,就相当于汉语成语 “塞翁失马,焉知非福”。当它用于过去时态的语句中时,通常表达了某件事情以一种意想不到的积极方式告终。这个短语也可以用来预言未来的事情不会像最初看起来的那样消极。
Losing that job turned out to be a blessing in disguise – I found a much better one!
失去了那份工作反倒是因祸得福,因为我找到了一份更好的工作!
I'm annoyed we had to cancel the holiday, but I think it could be a blessing in disguise – the weather forecast for that week is terrible!
我们不得不取消假期,这让我很生气,但我觉得这可能是塞翁失马,焉知非福。天气预报预计那周的天气很糟糕!
Having a new competitor could be a blessing in disguise – we'll make better products.
有了一个新的竞争对手可能是一种变相的好事,因为这样我们会制造出更好的产品。