sweet-and-sour

• sweet and sour

sweet-and-sour (comparative more sweet-and-sour, superlative most sweet-and-sour)

1. (cooking) Having both sweet and sour or tart taste.
2. Having both positive and negative traits, or inspiring conflicting good and bad feelings.
   • 1982, Ward's Auto World, volume 18, numbers 1-6, page 65:

     Like an accordion at a country wedding producing sweet-and-sour notes, some importers are expanding their U.S. retail automotive operations while others are skinnying down.

   • 2014, Lloyd E. McIlveen, Improving on Love and Relationships:

     Humans utilize a kind of sweet and sour blend of love potion called charm.

• (inspiring good and bad feelings): bittersweet

• sweet-and-sour sauce

• barbecue sauce