no alternative
Must do this
No alternative describes a situation where only one option exists—or appears to.
When you have no alternative, you must accept what's available: There was no alternative but to wait.
The phrase often justifies difficult decisions: We had no alternative but to lay off staff.
Sometimes it acknowledges constraint; other times it deflects responsibility.
- inescapabilityState of being certain
- no choiceLack of alternatives
- force majeureExtraordinary event excusing performance
- dead endPassage without outlet
- end of the lineFinal destination point
necessity · inevitability · Hobson's choice · only option · choiceless · boxed in · rock and a hard place · surrender · predestination · acceptance · acquiescence · fait accompli · fatalism · non-negotiable · do or die · press · ultimatum · compulsion
- No Choiceno choice, only option, take-it-or-leave-it, last resort, locked in
no alternativefree choice
Unrestricted decision-making power
full discretion · carte blanche · open field · free rein · optional
no alternativeflexibility
Ability to adapt easily
wiggle room · open-ended · latitude · leeway · freedom