Caught between a rock and a hard place

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Meaning

Facing a dilemma with no good options, stuck picking between two tough choices.

Origin

From 20th-century America, possibly tied to miners trapped between rockfaces; slang by the 1920s for dire straits. A 1921 'Dial' magazine uses it for a labor clash.

Variants

  • Rock and hard place
  • Between rock and hard

Usage Examples

  • Quit or stay? I'm caught between a rock and a hard place.
  • She's between a rock and a hard place; pay late or skip rent.
  • Caught between a rock and a hard place, he chose silence.

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