between a rock and a hard place
📖 generalMeaning
To be in a difficult situation where one must choose between two equally unpleasant or unfavorable options.
Literal Meaning
Caught physically in the confined space between a large stone and a solid, unyielding area.
Example
“I'm between a rock and a hard place: if I tell my boss, my colleague will get fired, but if I don't, I'll be lying.”