between Scylla and Charybdis

Prepositional phrase

1. (idiomatic) Between two dangers or undesired situations.
   • Grateful also to those who are in fear for me, lest I should either excite hatred, or disguise the truth, I will, by the help of Christ, make such a return for their kindness, as neither to become odious, nor a falsifier. For I will describe, both what has been done well, or otherwise, in such...1847, William of Malmesbury, translated by John Sharpe, edited by John Allen Giles, Chronicle of the Kings of England, Book 4/Preface
   • "I can't try," said poor Ralph; "I can't move further. I can't face that journey. Fancy me between Scylla and Charybdis! I don't want to die on the Sicilian plains—to be snatched away, like Proserpine in the same locality, to the Plutonian shades."1908, Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady (The Novels and Tales of Henry James), New York edition, volume (please specify |volume=I or II), Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons...

   Synonyms:

   between a rock and a hard place, between the hammer and the anvil, between the devil and the deep blue sea, between two fires, damned if one does and damned if one doesn't, doomed if you do, doomed if you don't, in a cleft stick, in bad bread, on the horns of a dilemma