The phrase “between the devil and the deep blue sea” refers to being in a difficult situation where you have two undesirable choices, and whichever option you choose, you will face a negative consequence. It conveys the idea of being stuck in a dilemma, where there is no easy or favorable option, and you must choose between two equally troublesome alternatives. This idiom originates from a nautical term, where sailors were often caught between the “devil” (a dangerous position on the ship) and the “deep blue sea” (the vast, unpredictable ocean), both of which presented peril. In Indonesian, this could be translated as “di antara dua pilihan sulit” or “antara dua pilihan yang sama buruknya”, emphasizing the idea of a tough choice.
Synonyms:
- Caught between a rock and a hard place
- In a bind
- Stuck in a dilemma
- In a tight spot
- Between a hard place and a rock
- In a precarious situation
- In a tough position
- Facing a no-win situation
- In a sticky situation
- In a pickle
Example Sentences:
- He was between the devil and the deep blue sea, having to choose between losing his job or going along with unethical practices.
- The company is between the devil and the deep blue sea — they can either cut costs or risk falling behind the competition.
- I felt like I was between the devil and the deep blue sea when my parents asked me to choose between staying at home or moving far away for work.
- The negotiator found himself between the devil and the deep blue sea, as neither side was willing to compromise.
- She was between the devil and the deep blue sea, deciding whether to accept the promotion that required relocation or stay in her current position.
- The government is between the devil and the deep blue sea with its economic policies — they can’t please everyone.
- They were between the devil and the deep blue sea, unable to choose between investing in new technology or focusing on their existing infrastructure.
- With the deadline approaching, the team was between the devil and the deep blue sea, unable to complete the project on time.
- In the election, the candidate was between the devil and the deep blue sea, torn between appealing to voters’ hopes or addressing their fears.
- He felt between the devil and the deep blue sea, having to choose between standing by his friend or supporting his family’s wishes.
Related Words:
- Dilemma
- Quandary
- Predicament
- Crisis
- Tough decision
- Hard choice
- Struggle
- Conflict
- Conundrum
- Catch-22
Related Phrasal Verbs:
- Caught in a bind (to be in a difficult situation with no easy way out, similar to between the devil and the deep blue sea)
- Put in a tough spot (to be placed in a difficult situation where options are limited)
- Back someone into a corner (to force someone into a situation where they have no good options, akin to between the devil and the deep blue sea)
- Get caught between a rock and a hard place (to face a difficult decision with no favorable outcomes)
- Have no choice (to be forced into making a difficult decision with undesirable outcomes)
- Face the music (to confront the consequences of a decision, often when between the devil and the deep blue sea)
- Bite the bullet (to endure a painful situation or decision when there is no escape, similar to between the devil and the deep blue sea)
- Cross that bridge when you come to it (to avoid worrying about difficult decisions until they arise, often when you’re stuck in a tough spot)
- Make a tough call (to make a difficult decision, often when faced with two bad options)
- Swallow your pride (to choose an option that’s difficult, often when forced to make a hard decision)
Idiomatic Expressions:
- Caught between a rock and a hard place (the same meaning as between the devil and the deep blue sea, referring to a situation with two bad choices)
- Bite the bullet (to endure something painful or difficult, often because there is no other choice)
- Out of the frying pan and into the fire (to go from one bad situation to another, often similarly to being between the devil and the deep blue sea)
- In hot water (to be in trouble or facing a difficult situation, sometimes due to tough choices)
- A lose-lose situation (a scenario where all options lead to a negative outcome, similar to between the devil and the deep blue sea)
- Between a hard place and a rock (a variant of between the devil and the deep blue sea, meaning the same thing)
- Make a hard choice (to make a decision in a difficult situation where both outcomes are undesirable)
- When it rains, it pours (when one bad situation follows another, often leaving someone between the devil and the deep blue sea)
- Stuck between two evils (similar to being between the devil and the deep blue sea, having to choose the lesser of two bad options)
- Facing the music (to accept the consequences of a difficult decision, often after being caught between the devil and the deep blue sea)
“Between the devil and the deep blue sea” perfectly captures the feeling of being stuck in a tough spot, where no decision seems entirely good, and every option comes with its own set of challenges. It’s an expression that conveys the frustration of needing to make a choice when neither outcome is desirable, but you have no other option but to pick one and deal with the consequences.
