lose at sunrise, gain at sunset; lose here, gain there
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to lose at sunrise but gain at sunset; to suffer a loss in one respect but make up for it in another; to lose at one end and gain at the other
literaryOriginated from the Book of the Later Han (《后汉书•冯异传》). '东隅' (dōng yú) refers to the eastern corner where the sun rises, symbolizing early times or the beginning of the day; '桑榆' (sāng yú) refers to the mulberry and elm trees in the west where the sun sets, symbolizing late times or the end of the day. The idiom conveys that a loss in one area or time may be compensated by a gain in another.
Although we suffered losses in this investment, we made up for it by recouping the costs in other projects.
His career did not go well in his early years, but he found happiness in his later life.
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He failed in this election, but as one door closed, another opened, and he was recommended for an even better position.