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Is there some expression for situations where you can conclude that a solution's advantages are the same as the disadvantages of alternative solutions?

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As Jasper notes, if you give us a real example you might see answers that might be more interesting to you. – Unreason Aug 18 '11 at 13:08
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I mean situations when there are two choices and the pros of one are the cons of the other and vice versa. So what I'd like to emphasize is that the choise is not between the named alternatives, but the mutually exclusive properties they have. – Tihamer Nagy Aug 18 '11 at 13:47
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@Tihamer, do you realize that you just described something essentially different? Also, you have not provided an example - your quest for the answer will be much easier if you illustrate the situation with example or analogy. – Unreason Aug 18 '11 at 14:08
@Unreason Yes indeed, I'm sorry for the confusion. An example I like is what Hackworth already posted below. – Tihamer Nagy Aug 18 '11 at 15:41
"mutually exclusive" has a related meaning. – wfaulk Aug 18 '11 at 17:25

7 Answers

up vote 1 down vote accepted

If you want to be a bit verbose and humorous, you could just repeat the fact verbatim and put the sentence as if it was a clear example/counterexample.

Example: You sell your car and do all your traveling by bicycle. That is environmentally friendly and your personal health benefits. On the other hand, shopping and quick, long-distance mobility is limited.

So you could say:

On the one hand, I sold my car. On the other hand, I sold my car!

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up vote 1 down vote

Colloquially, we might say

It's six of one, half a dozen of the other.

or

It's a wash.

or more technically,

There's no net benefit.

or

The net benefit is zero.

Substitute other nouns for benefit at will.

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up vote 0 down vote

Not sure if there is such an expression, however you may say that 'the advantages do not outweigh the disadvantages'.

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up vote 0 down vote

The word I would use is balanced.

As in, "The pros and cons of the action were balanced."

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up vote 0 down vote

kif kif, a good one is:

The front is as big as the back.

there are many sayings of this nature in English, most are mentioned in the other answers. That's my favourite one.

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up vote 0 down vote

Well, it depends on the case.

Case "software":

.NET's reflection is just as good as Java's reflection.

Case "family":

My girlfriend's dog was just as bad as her former one.

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up vote -1 down vote

Double-edged sword or two-edged sword.

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