This could be a metaphor or irony depending on the context
Irony can be a word or phrase that says one thing but can hold the exact opposite meaning or something close to opposite.
metaphors are words that hold deeper meaning or mean something else than the literal phrase
"half a loaf is better than none"
Post is after, pre is before
Meisie was upset that she scored poorly on her test, she continuously recounted her experience of taking the test with added mutters of 'I could have reread that with more observation' or 'How did I forget that?' But her mother reassures her that when it's all said and done, at the end of the day she will have learned and grown from her bitter experience.
I wrote the cliche in bold. Also that turned out to be a tad long, so here is a short and sweet one if you feel my first example was too lengthy.
After the students finished their test, all the children said the test was easy as pie.
“That place was awesome!"
