【原】between a rock and a hard place 进退维谷

学了很多的习语后，大家有没有发现，除了个别比较生僻的习语，如 put your feet up，我们猜不到它的寓意外，其他习语的意思我们比较容易猜到，就像 between a rock and a hard place， 字面意思“在石头与硬的地方中间”，那不就是“左右为难，进退维谷，陷入困境”的意思吗，它寓意：

having two very bad choices

有两个非常糟糕的选择

in a very difficult situation

在非常困难的情况下

facing a hard decision

面临艰难的决定

having two equally unpleasant or unacceptable options

有两个同样令人不快或不可接受的选择

例如：

I hate my job but cannot quit owing to my economic condition. I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place

我讨厌我的工作，但由于我的经济状况，我不能辞职。我进退两难。

I can't make up my mind whose side I am on; I'm caught between a rock and a hard place

我无法决定我站在谁的一边，我左右为难。

He was caught between a rock and a hard place. If he accepted the offer, he would have to work long hours with low pay, if he didn't, he would lose his livelihood.

他左右为难。如果他接受了这份工作，他将不得不长时间低薪工作，如果他不接受，他将失去生计。

Our company was caught between a rock and a hard place. If we made the deal, we would make a monetary loss and if we didn't, we would lose our reputation.

我们公司陷入困境。如果我们达成协议，我们将蒙受金钱上的损失，如果我们不这样做，我们将失去我们的声誉。

They are both my brothers! I can't go against either of them. I am stuck between a rock and a hard place.

他们都是我的兄弟！我不能反对他们中的任何一个。我左右为难。

人的一辈子总会遇到两件事不如意，一是这件事，二是那件事，经常令我们左右为难，但是我始终相信只要思想不滑坡，办法总比困难多，遇到困难我们不要害怕，要冷静，要 look before you leap.