silver lining

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ˈsil•ver ˈlin•ing, n. [countable]

1. a possibility or element of hope or comfort in an unfortunate or gloomy situation.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sil′ver lin′ing, 

1. a sign of hope in an unfortunate or gloomy situation;
   a bright prospect:
   Every cloud has a silver lining.

• 1870–75

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

silver lining noun

1. a comforting or hopeful aspect of an otherwise desperate or unhappy situation (esp in the phrase every cloud has a silver lining)