between the devil and the deep blue sea in a difficult situation because there are only two choices you can make and both of them are unpleasant进退维谷，左右为难 between the devil and the deep blue sea caught in a dilemma 进退两难。 [ORIGIN: alluding to two equally dangerous alternatives; also as between the devil and the dead sea and between the devil and the deep sea.] between the ˌdevil and the ˌdeep blue ˈseain a difficult situation where there are two equally unpleasant or unacceptable choices进退维谷；左右为难 |