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between a rock and a hard place

be·tween a rock and a hard place
B b

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [bih-tween ey rok and ey hahrd pleys]
    • /bɪˈtwin eɪ rɒk ænd eɪ hɑrd pleɪs/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [bih-tween ey rok and ey hahrd pleys]
    • /bɪˈtwin eɪ rɒk ænd eɪ hɑrd pleɪs/

Definitions of between a rock and a hard place words

  • noun between a rock and a hard place having to choose between two equally unpleasant alternatives 3
  • noun between a rock and a hard place in a predicament; specif., faced with equally unpleasant alternatives 3
  • noun between a rock and a hard place a large mass of stone forming a hill, cliff, promontory, or the like. 1
  • noun between a rock and a hard place Geology. mineral matter of variable composition, consolidated or unconsolidated, assembled in masses or considerable quantities in nature, as by the action of heat or water. a particular kind of such matter: igneous rock. 1
  • noun between a rock and a hard place stone in the mass: buildings that stand upon rock. 1
  • noun between a rock and a hard place a stone of any size. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of between a rock and a hard place

First appearance:

before 1300
One of the 15% oldest English words
1300-50; 1905-10 for def 10; Middle English rokk(e) < Old French ro(c)que, roche (cf. roche alum); compare Spanish, Provençal roca, Italian rocca, Medieval Latin rocha, rocca (> late Old English -rocc in stānrocc “stone-rock”)

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Between a rock and a hard place

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

between a rock and a hard place popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

Synonyms for between a rock and a hard place

noun between a rock and a hard place

  • pickle — a single grain or kernel, as of barley or corn.
  • predicament — an unpleasantly difficult, perplexing, or dangerous situation.
  • dilemma — a situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable alternatives.
  • quandary — a state of perplexity or uncertainty, especially as to what to do; dilemma.
  • crunch — If you crunch something hard, such as a sweet, you crush it noisily between your teeth.

adj between a rock and a hard place

  • catch-22 — If you describe a situation as a Catch-22, you mean it is an impossible situation because you cannot do one thing until you do another thing, but you cannot do the second thing until you do the first thing.
  • cornered — having (a specified number or type of) corners
  • hobson's choice — the choice of taking either that which is offered or nothing; the absence of a real alternative.

Antonyms for between a rock and a hard place

noun between a rock and a hard place

  • solution — the act of solving a problem, question, etc.: The situation is approaching solution.
  • pleasure — the state or feeling of being pleased.

See also

Matching words

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