between the devil and the deep blue sea

/bɪtwˌiːn ðə dˈɛvəl and ðə dˈiːp blˈuː sˈiː/

/bɪtwˌiːn ðə dˈɛvəl ænd ðə dˈiːp blˈuː sˈiː/

[phrase]

[PHRASE]

in a situation where both choices lead to an undesirable outcome

What is the origin of the idiom "between the devil and the deep blue sea" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "between the devil and the deep blue sea" can be attributed to nautical folklore and maritime language. In old sailing terminology, "the devil" referred to the seam (gap) between the planks of a ship's hull, which was known for being narrow and hard to access. On the other hand, "the deep blue sea" symbolized the vast, unknown and potentially dangerous waters. Sailors faced a dilemma when repairing a ship's hull: they had to choose between the difficulty of fixing the devil or the risk of going into the deep blue sea. It is often used to convey a sense of being trapped or in a predicament without any ideal solution.

Examples

1. And so this led me to think about how many other refugee children are in this kind of between the devil and the deep blue sea of either being excluded completely or being included in a way which really emphasizes their disability, emphasizes their difference, and is a really an act of discrimination.

2. However, with governments around the world becoming increasingly censorious and autocratic are we between the devil and the deep blue sea.

3. Another efficient trick is to put your adversary between the devil and the deep blue sea.