on the horns of a dilemma
Trapped between choices
On the horns of a dilemma describes being caught between two equally undesirable options, with no clear escape.
The image comes from facing a charging bull—whichever horn you try to avoid, the other threatens you.
She found herself on the horns of a dilemma: accept the promotion and relocate, or stay and watch her career stagnate.
- caughtSeized or grabbed
- stuckUnable to move
- tornPulled into pieces
- crossroadsMeeting of routes
- choiceAct of selecting
predicament · quandary · bind · pickle · jam · fence · wavering · indecision · on the fence · fork · deadlock · impasse · either · or · weighing · struggle · trapped · squeeze
decisional clarity
on the horns of a dilemmano-brainer
Self-evident decision
slam dunk · foregone conclusion · black and white · path of least resistance · cut and dried