hard place
Rock's proverbial partner
A hard place appears almost exclusively in the expression between a rock and a hard place, meaning caught between two equally bad options with no good way out.
The phrase suggests being squeezed—a rock on one side, something just as unyielding on the other.
Outside this idiom, hard place rarely appears.
- rockSolid earthen material
- stuckUnable to move
- trappedUnable to escape
- cornerMeeting point of edges
- backed intoMoved rearward into
dilemma · squeeze · tight squeeze · tight spot · wall · brick wall · between · caught between · impossible · crush · pressure · difficult · bind · predicament · stone · unyielding · immovable · obstacle
- hardshipsadversity, struggle, misfortune, difficulties, ordeal
- predicamentspredicament, dilemma, bind, pickle, pinch
- Troublesproblem, trouble, issue, setback, snag
hard placeeasy street
State of financial security
comfort zone · safe haven · soft landing · bed of roses · smooth sailing
hard placeescape route
Planned exit path
way out · open door · freedom · options · clear path
hard placesoft spot
Emotional vulnerability or fondness
soft landing · cushion · featherbed · soft ground · pillow
hard, place, harder, hardest, harden, hardened, hardening, hardener, hardness