necessary evil
US /ˈnɛs.əˌser.i ˈiː.vəl/
UK /ˈnɛs.əˌser.i ˈiː.vəl/
1.
必要之恶, 不得已而为之的坏事
something unpleasant that must be accepted or done in order to achieve a particular result
:
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Paying taxes is a necessary evil if we want public services.
如果我们想要公共服务，纳税是必要的恶。
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For some, working long hours is a necessary evil to achieve financial stability.
对一些人来说，长时间工作是实现财务稳定的必要之恶。