Have you ever been in a situation in which there are no good choices? Maybe you are stuck choosing between two or even three options that you find less than alluring. Situations such as these can are considered being between a rock and a hard place. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n
The phrase between a rock and a hard place means that a person has to deal with two or more less-than-ideal options. All available choices that have a negative result or a less positive outcome are also considered to be between a rock and a hard place.<\/strong><\/p>\n The phrase is also used when there are two evil or negative decisions, but one must be chosen regardless of the outcome. The phrase is commonly used in regular life and in professional settings.<\/p>\n \u201cI have to choose between buying food and paying rent, which puts me between a rock and a hard place\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is terrible being stuck between a rock and a hard place, there is just no good option\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can go with me, or go to jail, I don\u2019t care if you are stuck between a rock and a hard place\u201d\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to decide if you want to continue the pregnancy, or if you want to start cancer treatment. It\u2019s like you are between a rock and a hard place, but choices have to be made\u201d.<\/p>\n Decisions are a natural part of life, but sometimes, there are no good options available. These types of situations have existed as long as the human race has been alive. The actual phrase, between a rock and a hard place, however, was penned much later in our evolutionary history. The phrase can be traced back to Greek mythology. Specifically, it was first found in Homer\u2019s Odyssey.<\/p>\n In the tale, the character Odysseus must go through a difficult area on his journey. The Charybdis, which is a dangerous whirlpool, and the cliff-dwelling monster Scylla that loves to eat men, are the dangers he must face. The phrase between a rock and a hard place was used to explain his plight of having to travel between the cliff and the whirlpool.<\/p>\n The Greek saying is more of a translation or inference rather than a direct quote. The phrase was used quite often in the early parts of the 20th century in the USA and other first-world countries.<\/p>\nExample Usage<\/h2>\n
Origin<\/h2>\n