in a dilemma; between a rock and a hard place
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to be in a dilemma; to find oneself in a difficult situation where any choice is bad
neutralUsed to describe a situation where both advancing and retreating lead to undesirable outcomes. Emphasizes the feeling of being stuck with no good options.
Gōng公
sī司
yāo要
qiú求
tā他
lì立
kè刻
zuò做
chū出
jué决
dìng定
，
tā他
zhēn真
shì是
jìn进
tuì退
liǎng两
nán难
。
The company demanded he make a decision immediately, and he is truly in a dilemma.
Zhè这
ge个
xiàng项
mù目
jì继
xù续
zuò做
huì会
kuī亏
qián钱
，
bù不
jì继
xù续
zuò做
yòu又
děi得
fù付
wéi违
yuē约
jīn金
，
wǒ我
men们
xiàn现
zài在
jìn进
tuì退
liǎng两
nán难
。
Continuing this project will lose money, but stopping it will incur a penalty; we are now between a rock and a hard place.
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Tā他
jì既
bù不
xiǎng想
shāng伤
hài害
péng朋
you友
de的
gǎn感
qíng情
，
yòu又
bì必
xū须
shuō说
chū出
zhēn真
xiàng相
，
xiàn陷
rù入
le了
jìn进
tuì退
liǎng两
nán难
de的
jìng境
dì地
。
He doesn't want to hurt his friend's feelings, but he must tell the truth, so he has landed in a difficult position.
Miàn面
duì对
liǎng两
gè个
tóng同
yàng样
yōu优
xiù秀
de的
gōng工
zuò作
jī机
huì会
，
tā她
gǎn感
dào到
jìn进
tuì退
liǎng两
nán难
。
Faced with two equally excellent job offers, she feels torn between them.