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What do you call a situation where you have choices but no good choice?
Is there any phrase to describe the situation when you try to do something but it always fails?What do you call someone who tells jokes that nobody laughs at“Manager” or “supervisor” when complaining about service?How to name this selling format in English?Appropriate word for a specific situationWhat do you call a process of diploma work presentation and answering questionsWhat do you call the work done to make an encyclopedia or a reference book?What do you call the non-narrative aspects of a novel?What do you call a film sequence where a lot of scene changes happen rapidly one after another?What do you call the nephew of your adoptive father?
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How do you call a situation in which you seemingly have a choice, but whatever you choose it will be to your disadvantage in one way or another?
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How do you call a situation in which you seemingly have a choice, but whatever you choose it will be to your disadvantage in one way or another?
word-request phrase-request
edited 1 hour ago
Glorfindel
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asked 12 hours ago
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How do you call a situation in which you seemingly have a choice, but whatever you choose it will be to your disadvantage in one way or another?
word-request phrase-request
edited 1 hour ago
Glorfindel
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asked 12 hours ago
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How do you call a situation in which you seemingly have a choice, but whatever you choose it will be to your disadvantage in one way or another?
word-request phrase-request
word-request phrase-request
edited 1 hour ago
Glorfindel
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asked 12 hours ago
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edited 1 hour ago
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edited 1 hour ago
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edited 1 hour ago
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edited 1 hour ago
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4 Answers
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There are many such idioms in English. You could say you are "caught on the horns of a dilemma," "between a rock and a hard place," "between the devil and the deep blue sea," "between Scylla and Charybdis." These generally all mean you are faced with two equally unpleasant options. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/on-the-horns-of-a-dilemma
answered 12 hours ago
ShowsniShowsni
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Of these, the only I've heard in common American English is "between a rock and a hard place". I could probably have deduced what "caught on the horns of a dilemma" means but I think "between Scylla and Charybdis" would be lost on the average American.
– Reticulated Spline
4 hours ago
add a comment |
As others have said there are many expressions describing a situation in which there is no apparent beneficial outcome, such as choose the lesser of two evils, between a rock and a hard place, etc.
It could also be called a no-win situation.
answered 10 hours ago
MickMick
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One might say than in such a situation, you're faced with two evils (or maybe more than two). There's a commonly used phrase choose the lesser of two evils:
To pick the less offensive of two undesirable options.
I wasn't excited about going to a seminar all weekend, but I also didn't want to lose my license, so I chose the lesser of two evils and spent the weekend learning about new regulations in our field.
Do you really want to get a demerit for not having your blazer? Just choose the lesser of two evils and tell the teacher you forgot it—maybe she'll take pity on you!
(source: The Free Dictionary)
answered 12 hours ago
GlorfindelGlorfindel
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Damned if you do, damned if you don't is another common idiom conveying this
A situation in which one can't win. For example, If I invite Aunt
Jane, Mother will be angry, and if I don't, I lose Jane's
friendship-I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't . [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]
answered 2 hours ago
Michael J.Michael J.
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4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
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votes
active
oldest
votes
There are many such idioms in English. You could say you are "caught on the horns of a dilemma," "between a rock and a hard place," "between the devil and the deep blue sea," "between Scylla and Charybdis." These generally all mean you are faced with two equally unpleasant options. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/on-the-horns-of-a-dilemma
answered 12 hours ago
ShowsniShowsni
8294 bronze badges
1
Of these, the only I've heard in common American English is "between a rock and a hard place". I could probably have deduced what "caught on the horns of a dilemma" means but I think "between Scylla and Charybdis" would be lost on the average American.
– Reticulated Spline
4 hours ago
add a comment |
There are many such idioms in English. You could say you are "caught on the horns of a dilemma," "between a rock and a hard place," "between the devil and the deep blue sea," "between Scylla and Charybdis." These generally all mean you are faced with two equally unpleasant options. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/on-the-horns-of-a-dilemma
answered 12 hours ago
ShowsniShowsni
8294 bronze badges
1
Of these, the only I've heard in common American English is "between a rock and a hard place". I could probably have deduced what "caught on the horns of a dilemma" means but I think "between Scylla and Charybdis" would be lost on the average American.
– Reticulated Spline
4 hours ago
add a comment |
There are many such idioms in English. You could say you are "caught on the horns of a dilemma," "between a rock and a hard place," "between the devil and the deep blue sea," "between Scylla and Charybdis." These generally all mean you are faced with two equally unpleasant options. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/on-the-horns-of-a-dilemma
answered 12 hours ago
ShowsniShowsni
8294 bronze badges
There are many such idioms in English. You could say you are "caught on the horns of a dilemma," "between a rock and a hard place," "between the devil and the deep blue sea," "between Scylla and Charybdis." These generally all mean you are faced with two equally unpleasant options. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/on-the-horns-of-a-dilemma
answered 12 hours ago
ShowsniShowsni
8294 bronze badges
answered 12 hours ago
ShowsniShowsni
8294 bronze badges
answered 12 hours ago
ShowsniShowsni
8294 bronze badges
answered 12 hours ago
ShowsniShowsni
8294 bronze badges
8294 bronze badges
1
Of these, the only I've heard in common American English is "between a rock and a hard place". I could probably have deduced what "caught on the horns of a dilemma" means but I think "between Scylla and Charybdis" would be lost on the average American.
– Reticulated Spline
4 hours ago
add a comment |
1
Of these, the only I've heard in common American English is "between a rock and a hard place". I could probably have deduced what "caught on the horns of a dilemma" means but I think "between Scylla and Charybdis" would be lost on the average American.
– Reticulated Spline
4 hours ago
1
1
Of these, the only I've heard in common American English is "between a rock and a hard place". I could probably have deduced what "caught on the horns of a dilemma" means but I think "between Scylla and Charybdis" would be lost on the average American.
– Reticulated Spline
4 hours ago
Of these, the only I've heard in common American English is "between a rock and a hard place". I could probably have deduced what "caught on the horns of a dilemma" means but I think "between Scylla and Charybdis" would be lost on the average American.
– Reticulated Spline
4 hours ago
add a comment |
As others have said there are many expressions describing a situation in which there is no apparent beneficial outcome, such as choose the lesser of two evils, between a rock and a hard place, etc.
It could also be called a no-win situation.
answered 10 hours ago
MickMick
1,3655 silver badges17 bronze badges
add a comment |
As others have said there are many expressions describing a situation in which there is no apparent beneficial outcome, such as choose the lesser of two evils, between a rock and a hard place, etc.
It could also be called a no-win situation.
answered 10 hours ago
MickMick
1,3655 silver badges17 bronze badges
add a comment |
As others have said there are many expressions describing a situation in which there is no apparent beneficial outcome, such as choose the lesser of two evils, between a rock and a hard place, etc.
It could also be called a no-win situation.
answered 10 hours ago
MickMick
1,3655 silver badges17 bronze badges
As others have said there are many expressions describing a situation in which there is no apparent beneficial outcome, such as choose the lesser of two evils, between a rock and a hard place, etc.
It could also be called a no-win situation.
answered 10 hours ago
MickMick
1,3655 silver badges17 bronze badges
answered 10 hours ago
MickMick
1,3655 silver badges17 bronze badges
answered 10 hours ago
MickMick
1,3655 silver badges17 bronze badges
answered 10 hours ago
MickMick
1,3655 silver badges17 bronze badges
1,3655 silver badges17 bronze badges
add a comment |
add a comment |
One might say than in such a situation, you're faced with two evils (or maybe more than two). There's a commonly used phrase choose the lesser of two evils:
To pick the less offensive of two undesirable options.
I wasn't excited about going to a seminar all weekend, but I also didn't want to lose my license, so I chose the lesser of two evils and spent the weekend learning about new regulations in our field.
Do you really want to get a demerit for not having your blazer? Just choose the lesser of two evils and tell the teacher you forgot it—maybe she'll take pity on you!
(source: The Free Dictionary)
answered 12 hours ago
GlorfindelGlorfindel
9,08011 gold badges38 silver badges47 bronze badges
add a comment |
One might say than in such a situation, you're faced with two evils (or maybe more than two). There's a commonly used phrase choose the lesser of two evils:
To pick the less offensive of two undesirable options.
I wasn't excited about going to a seminar all weekend, but I also didn't want to lose my license, so I chose the lesser of two evils and spent the weekend learning about new regulations in our field.
Do you really want to get a demerit for not having your blazer? Just choose the lesser of two evils and tell the teacher you forgot it—maybe she'll take pity on you!
(source: The Free Dictionary)
answered 12 hours ago
GlorfindelGlorfindel
9,08011 gold badges38 silver badges47 bronze badges
add a comment |
One might say than in such a situation, you're faced with two evils (or maybe more than two). There's a commonly used phrase choose the lesser of two evils:
To pick the less offensive of two undesirable options.
I wasn't excited about going to a seminar all weekend, but I also didn't want to lose my license, so I chose the lesser of two evils and spent the weekend learning about new regulations in our field.
Do you really want to get a demerit for not having your blazer? Just choose the lesser of two evils and tell the teacher you forgot it—maybe she'll take pity on you!
(source: The Free Dictionary)
answered 12 hours ago
GlorfindelGlorfindel
9,08011 gold badges38 silver badges47 bronze badges
One might say than in such a situation, you're faced with two evils (or maybe more than two). There's a commonly used phrase choose the lesser of two evils:
To pick the less offensive of two undesirable options.
I wasn't excited about going to a seminar all weekend, but I also didn't want to lose my license, so I chose the lesser of two evils and spent the weekend learning about new regulations in our field.
Do you really want to get a demerit for not having your blazer? Just choose the lesser of two evils and tell the teacher you forgot it—maybe she'll take pity on you!
(source: The Free Dictionary)
answered 12 hours ago
GlorfindelGlorfindel
9,08011 gold badges38 silver badges47 bronze badges
answered 12 hours ago
GlorfindelGlorfindel
9,08011 gold badges38 silver badges47 bronze badges
answered 12 hours ago
GlorfindelGlorfindel
9,08011 gold badges38 silver badges47 bronze badges
answered 12 hours ago
GlorfindelGlorfindel
9,08011 gold badges38 silver badges47 bronze badges
9,08011 gold badges38 silver badges47 bronze badges
add a comment |
add a comment |
Damned if you do, damned if you don't is another common idiom conveying this
A situation in which one can't win. For example, If I invite Aunt
Jane, Mother will be angry, and if I don't, I lose Jane's
friendship-I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't . [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]
answered 2 hours ago
Michael J.Michael J.
2261 silver badge4 bronze badges
add a comment |
Damned if you do, damned if you don't is another common idiom conveying this
A situation in which one can't win. For example, If I invite Aunt
Jane, Mother will be angry, and if I don't, I lose Jane's
friendship-I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't . [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]
answered 2 hours ago
Michael J.Michael J.
2261 silver badge4 bronze badges
add a comment |
Damned if you do, damned if you don't is another common idiom conveying this
A situation in which one can't win. For example, If I invite Aunt
Jane, Mother will be angry, and if I don't, I lose Jane's
friendship-I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't . [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]
answered 2 hours ago
Michael J.Michael J.
2261 silver badge4 bronze badges
Damned if you do, damned if you don't is another common idiom conveying this
A situation in which one can't win. For example, If I invite Aunt
Jane, Mother will be angry, and if I don't, I lose Jane's
friendship-I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't . [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]
answered 2 hours ago
Michael J.Michael J.
2261 silver badge4 bronze badges
answered 2 hours ago
Michael J.Michael J.
2261 silver badge4 bronze badges
answered 2 hours ago
Michael J.Michael J.
2261 silver badge4 bronze badges
answered 2 hours ago
Michael J.Michael J.
2261 silver badge4 bronze badges
2261 silver badge4 bronze badges
add a comment |
add a comment |
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