between the devil and the deep blue sea

between the devil and the deep blue sea
between a rock and a hard place & between the devil and the deep blue sea
Fig. in a very difficult position; facing a hard decision. •

I couldn't make up my mind. I was caught between a rock and a hard place.

He had a dilemma on his hands. He was clearly between the devil and the deep blue sea.

* * *
or {literary}[between two fires] or[between a rock and a hard place] {adv. phr.} Between two dangers or difficulties, not knowing what to do. * /The pirates had to fight and be killed or give up and be hanged; they were between the devil and the deep blue sea./ * /The boy was between a rock and a hard place; he had to go home and be whipped or stay in town all night and be picked up by the police./ * /When the man's wife and her mother got together, he was between two fires./ Compare: COMING AND GOING(2), IN A BIND.

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea — is an idiom meaning a dilemma i.e., to choose between two undesirable situations (equivalent to between a rock and a hard place ). Its original meaning may be that of a nautical reference citing the deep blue sea and a devil a seam (where two… …   Wikipedia

  • between the devil and the deep blue sea — or {literary}[between two fires] or[between a rock and a hard place] {adv. phr.} Between two dangers or difficulties, not knowing what to do. * /The pirates had to fight and be killed or give up and be hanged; they were between the devil and the… …   Dictionary of American idioms

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