Between A Rock And A Hard Place

Stuck between two very bad options.



Origins in 19th century America. It's tempting to surmise, given that  mineworkers were faced with a choice between harsh and underpaid work at the rock-face on the one hand and unemployment and poverty on the other, that this is the source of the phrase.

Ex: “It’s such a difficult situation; I’m between a rock and a hard place”



Spanish: entre la espada y la pared



German: In einer Zwickmühle stecken