take the rough with the smooth

verb

To accept both the positive and negative elements in a situation.

Similar
take the bitter with the sweet
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Meanings

verbtake the rough with the smooth (third-person singular simple present takes the rough with the smooth, present participle taking the rough with the smooth, simple past took the rough with the smooth, past participle taken the rough with the smooth)

present singular third person takes the rough with the smooth · participle present taking the rough with the smooth · past took the rough with the smooth · participle past taken the rough with the smooth

  1. UKfigurativelyTo accept both the positive and negative elements in a situation.

    Synonyms: take the bitter with the sweet

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo accept both the positive and negative elements in a situation.

Similar
take the bitter with the sweet
Also see
take the bitter with the sweet

Translations

Finnish hyväksyä sekä hyvät että huonot puolet
  • hyväksyä sekä hyvät että huonot puoletTranslations
French prendre les choses comme elles viennent
  • prendre les choses comme elles viennentTranslations
Polish akceptować sytuację taką, jaka jest, zaakceptować sytuację taką, jaka jest
  • akceptować sytuację taką, jaka jestTranslations
  • zaakceptować sytuację taką, jaka jestTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

take the rough with the smooth. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20the%20rough%20with%20the%20smooth

MLA

“take the rough with the smooth.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20the%20rough%20with%20the%20smooth. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “take the rough with the smooth,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20the%20rough%20with%20the%20smooth.

Source: take the rough with the smooth on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.