be cruel to be kind
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Act in a way which seems harsh but will ultimately be of benefit.
Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt
hành động dường như khắc nghiệt nhưng cuối cùng sẽ có lợi
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Sources & notes
Listed in Wiktionary’s “English idioms” category (retrieved 2026-07-29); definition pending editorial review. Figurative class: Paradox (PIE-English corpus, CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-31).
Common questions
What does “be cruel to be kind” mean?
Act in a way which seems harsh but will ultimately be of benefit.
Is “be cruel to be kind” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.