Hobson's choice
Suggest a CorrectionMeaning
A supposed choice in which the only real options are to accept what is offered or take nothing. Often confused with a dilemma between two bad alternatives. Strictly, Hobson's choice is one offered option or none. Regional use: British English, now also international.
Origin
The expression is documented by the mid-17th century and has long been associated with Thomas Hobson, the Cambridge carrier and horse hirer who was said to offer customers the next horse in rotation or none. Historical research also finds earlier Hobson stories and wording that complicate a neat one-person derivation, so the stable rule is best presented as the traditional association rather than an independently proved act of coinage.
Research Sources
Usage Examples
- The landlord offered a six-month lease at the new rent or immediate departure: a plain Hobson's choice.
- Choosing the only train that still runs is hardly a choice; it is Hobson's choice.
- The tender gave small firms Hobson's choice between impossible terms and no work.