between a rock and a hard place
Two bad options
Facing two equally undesirable options with no good way out.
The phrase describes situations where every available choice leads to trouble: She was between a rock and a hard place—accept the demotion or quit without another job lined up.
The image suggests being crushed from both sides, with no room to escape.
- tight spotDifficult position, few options
- Catch-22Self-defeating logical trap
- double bindSituation with contradictory demands
- impasseSituation without resolution
- stalemateMutual obstruction preventing progress
tough spot · predicament · lesser of two evils · difficulties · up against it · backed into a corner · Hobson's choice · up against the wall · in a pickle · paradox · hot water · on thin ice · in a bind · dilemma · no-win situation · crisis · trouble · helplessness
- hardshipshardship, adversity, struggle, misfortune, difficulties
- predicamentspredicament, dilemma, bind, pickle, pinch
- Precariousnessprecarious, unstable, teetering, tottering, wobbly
- pressureair pressure, blood pressure rise, blood pressure drop, barometric pressure, apply pressure
between a rock and a hard placein clover
Enjoying wealth and ease
sitting pretty · on top of the world · living the dream · blessed · fortunate
between a rock and a hard placespoiled for choice
Having too many options
embarrassment of riches · free to choose · carte blanche · free rein · at liberty
between a rock and a hard placeno-brainer
Self-evident decision
plain sailing · smooth sailing · walk in the park · piece of cake · slam dunk
hardly, between, harden, placed, hardness, hardcover, rockslide, hardball, rockfish