damned if one does and damned if one doesn't
No-win situation either
A situation where any choice leads to criticism or negative consequences.
The phrase captures a no-win dilemma: acting brings blame, but so does not acting.
She's damned if she does and damned if she doesn't—speak up and she's aggressive, stay quiet and she's a pushover.
Often shortened to damned if you do, damned if you don't.
- Catch-22Self-defeating logical trap
- double bindSituation with contradictory demands
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
- trade-offsSacrifices for gains
indecision · helplessness · dilemma · impossible choice · tough spot · fatalism · Hobson's choice · lesser of two evils · devil's bargain · between a rock and a hard place · caught between · absurdism · zero-sum game · judgment call · cognitive dissonance · zugzwang · compromise · regret
damned if one does and damned if one doesn'tno-brainer
Self-evident decision
clear-cut · straightforward · open and shut · slam dunk · black and white
damned if one does and damned if one doesn'twin-win situation
Outcome benefiting all parties
win-win · best of both worlds · free to choose · carte blanche · freedom of choice
damned if one does and damned if one doesn'tsure thing
Guaranteed outcome or agreement
nothing to lose · golden opportunity · sitting pretty · safe bet
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