devil and deep blue sea
between the devil and the deep blue sea
Facing two equally unpleasant, dangerous, or risky alternatives, when the avoidance of one ensures encountering the harm of the other. I was between the devil and the deep blue sea, for if I didn't take out another loan—and go deeper into debt—I could not pay off the debts I already owed. The police knew with certainty he had drugs in his car, so he became trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea: either lie to the police, or admit that the drugs belonged to him.
See also: and, between, blue, deep, devil, sea
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
devil and deep blue sea
see under between a rock and a hard place.
See also: and, blue, deep, devil, sea
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
- between the devil and the deep blue sea
- between the hammer and the anvil
- Charybdis
- between a rock and a hard place
- Scylla
- between Scylla and Charybdis
- Scylla and Charybdis
- skunk at a garden party
- come to a bad end
- come to a bad/sticky end