estar entre la espada y la pared

to be caught between a rock and a hard place

USAGE NOTE

This idiom may be literally translated as "to be between the sword and the wall."

estar entre la espada y la pared(

)

An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).

intransitive verb phrase

An idiom is a phrase with a meaning different from the literal meaning of the separate words that make it up (e.g., break a leg).

(idiom)

(to be in a bad situation no matter what you do)

a. to be caught between a rock and a hard place

An idiom is a phrase with a meaning different from the literal meaning of the separate words that make it up (e.g., break a leg).

(idiom)

No podíamos huir. O nos rendíamos y vivíamos como esclavos o moríamos en las trincheras. Estábamos entre la espada y la pared.We couldn't escape. We had to either surrender and live as slaves or die in the trenches. We were caught between a rock and a hard place.

b. to be caught between the devil and the deep blue sea

An idiom is a phrase with a meaning different from the literal meaning of the separate words that make it up (e.g., break a leg).

(idiom)

Silvia está entre la espada y la pared, porque con su escaso sueldo tiene que elegir entre pagar la renta al casero o saldar su deuda con la compañía de la luz.Silvia is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, because with her small salary, she has to choose between paying rent to her landlord and settling her debt with the electricity company.

c. to be in a no-win situation

Los denunciantes de delitos de corrupción suelen estar entre la espada y la pared. Si no hablan, mal, pero si hablan, a menudo es peor.Whistleblowers are often in a no-win situation. It's bad if they don't speak out, but it's often worse if they do.

Examples