one or the other
Not both options
One or the other indicates a choice between two options, with only one to be selected: You can have one or the other, but not both.
It emphasizes mutual exclusivity—picking one means rejecting the other.
The phrase often appears when the specific choice matters less than making a decision: One or the other of us has to stay home.
- eitherOne of two
- this or thatNonspecific binary indicator
- choiceAct of selecting
- alternativeAnother available choice
- optionAvailable course of action
take it or leave it · dilemma · binary · flip · coin · coin flip · decide · make up your mind · pick · select · crossroads · fork · split the difference · indecision · on the fence · uncertain · maybe · perhaps
selection scope
one or the otherboth
The two together
neither · the whole lot · everything · all at once · none of the above