Between the devil and the deep blue sea

Meaning

The idiom "between the devil and the deep blue sea" means to be in a difficult or precarious situation where there are no good options available. It suggests that one is caught between two negative choices, each with its own set of consequences.

Usage

• Sarah felt trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea when she had to choose between leaving her job or divorcing her husband.
• The company was in a difficult position when they were forced to choose between losing their biggest client or going bankrupt.
• When faced with the decision of whether to take the job offer or stay at his current company, John felt like he was between the devil and the deep blue sea.
• After being diagnosed with a rare illness, Maria found herself between the devil and the deep blue sea when she had to choose between painful treatments or living her life without them.
• The political landscape in the country was volatile as politicians were caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, trying to appease different factions of the population.

Roots and History

The idiom "between the devil and the deep blue sea" dates back to at least the 18th century. It is believed to have originated from a popular story called "The Devil and Tom Walker," which was published in 1765 by New England writer Benjamin Franklin. In the story, Tom Walker sells his soul to the devil in exchange for unlimited riches, but soon realizes that he has made a grave mistake when he is faced with impossible choices between wealth and his own happiness. The idiom has since become a common expression used to describe situations where one is forced to make difficult decisions with no good options available. Its usage can vary depending on the context, but it generally implies that the situation is dire or precarious.

Synonyms in English

• "between a rock and a hard place,"
• "in a pickle,"
• "at a crossroads."

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: "entre la sombra del diablo y el mar profundo" - This idiom has the same meaning as the English expression and is commonly used to describe difficult situations.
• French: "entre le démon et le grand fond" - This idiom translates to "between the devil and the deep end" and is used in similar situations to the English expression.
• German: "zwischen Teufel und Blauer See" - This idiom has the same meaning as the English expression and is commonly used in conversation.
• Italian: "tra diavolo e mare blu profondo" - This idiom translates to "between the devil and the deep blue sea" and is used in similar situations to the English expression.

Similar Idioms

• bite the hand that feed

• back to square one

• bread and butter