{"id":3956,"date":"2022-05-27T04:42:17","date_gmt":"2022-05-27T04:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=3956"},"modified":"2022-05-27T04:42:17","modified_gmt":"2022-05-27T04:42:17","slug":"collateral-beauty-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/collateral-beauty-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Collateral Beauty \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you looking for a way to describe something good that comes out of a bad situation? You could say that it is the \u201ccollateral beauty<\/em>\u201d of a terrible outcome. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The expression \u201ccollateral beauty<\/em>\u201d means that you find beauty in a bad outcome. It\u2019s another way of saying, \u201cevery cloud has a silver lining<\/em>.\u201d However, with \u201ccollateral beauty<\/em>,\u201d the event involved in the expression has a much more tragic outcome.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Someone could lose their parents in an accident but find the love of their life at the treatment center while recovering from their injuries. It\u2019s a way of saying finding the meaning behind something after experiencing tragic events, like learning the lesson in the tragedy.<\/p>\n

It can also refer to instances of selflessness and kindness, where a person puts themselves at risk to save another person. For example, a firefighter saved people from the rubble on 9\/11, only to die from toxic exposure two decades later.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cThat girl has been through so much in her life, and she manages to stay friendly and upbeat. That\u2019s a great example of collateral beauty in a person.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy son wrote off the Ferrari, but I got a McLaren with the insurance claim, and I\u2019d say it\u2019s a collateral beauty because I love it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe country underwent a period of unrest after its liberation. Now it\u2019s a fully-fledged democracy and a real collateral beauty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe collateral beauty in the situation is that he found the love of his life after his first wife died of cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCollateral beauty is finding the beauty in something that\u2019s messed up. But there\u2019s nothing beautiful about this tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe town flooded badly last year, and everyone experienced property damage to their homes. However, this year, the town is back better than ever, and they have protection against future floods. You could say it\u2019s a collateral beauty how the town bounced back so well.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Origin<\/h2>\n

The expression \u201ccollateral beauty\u201d originates from the title of a 2016 Hollywood blockbuster fantasy drama. David Frankel directed the film, and Allan Loeb wrote it, with the movie hailing a star-studded cast. The cast is a lineup of Hollywood A-listers, including Keira Knightley, Edward Norton, Will Smith, Michael Pe\u00f1a, Naomie Harris, and others.<\/p>\n

The plot follows a successful New York advertising exec who experiences a great life tragedy and retreats with his behavior. He asks the universe to answer his questions on life by writing letters to \u201cTime, Love, and death.\u201d<\/p>\n

He receives unexpected responses and begins to understand how loss can reveal meaning and beauty, even in tragic circumstances. The film debuted at the Dubai International Film Festival in December 2016, premiering in the US in mid-December 2016.<\/p>\n

Critics didn\u2019t think much of the film, but it managed to gross over $88-million at the global box office, despite its small $36-million budget.<\/p>\n