difficult situation
Between the devil and the deep blue sea.
in
This idiom or expression means:
Being in a difficult situation, where only bad choices are available.
Also, similar:
Lesser of two evils.
Between a rock and a hard place.
Out of the frying-pan and into the fire.
History:
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.) According to the "International Maritime Dictionary" by René de Kerchove, the devil is 1. The seam in a wooden deck which bounds the waterway. (It is so-called from its difficulty of access in calking.) 2. A seam in the planking of a wooden ship on or below the waterline. If sailors fell from a footrope under a yardarm, they would either land on the deck (within the devil plank) or in the water (outside of the devil plank). Either option is likely fatal.
Behind the eight ball.
in
This idiom or expression means:
In a tough spot.
In a difficult situation.
History:
From the game of “pool” where, if you’re behind the eight ball, you will be in trouble.
