The idiom “between the devil and the deep blue sea” refers to being trapped in a dilemma with no clear advantages. Its origins are debated, but it has gained popularity over time. The situation offers no easy solutions, and any action taken will result in some kind of damage. The decision maker must choose the course of action that will cause the least damage.
A common idiom used in many English-speaking countries is to refer to being trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea. Among the more popular English sayings, the origins of this particular idiom are regularly debated, with some tracing the saying back to Roman and Greek mythology times. Whatever the origin, the expression has come to refer to being trapped in a dilemma involving only two options, neither of which offer clear advantages.
There is some evidence that the phrase once simply implied being caught “between the devil and the deep sea.” References to a “deep blue sea” emerged during the 20th century with the popularization of a song that added the blue reference to the familiar idiom. Over the years, this new and improved expression has gained traction in popular usage even among those who have never heard the song.
At its core, being trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea is a situation that offers no easy solutions and certainly no options that the hapless individual finds appealing. While evaluating possible actions to address a given situation, it quickly becomes apparent that none of the actions offer a way out of the difficult position without incurring some kind of collateral damage. For example, if someone accidentally schedules two dates for the same night, cancels one under the guise of illness, and then comes across that rejected date while out on the other, that man or woman has no line of communication. action that prevents embarrassment and avoid hurt feelings for at least two and possibly three of the parties involved.
Being trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea doesn’t mean that one or more options can’t be employed to resolve a situation. What it implies is that none of the available solutions will allow a resolution without some amount of frustration and damage. As a result, someone will suffer a loss of some kind, regardless of the type of action taken. This leaves it up to the decision maker to finally identify which course of action will cause the least damage, in the hopes that we can undo that damage and move forward with as little fuss as possible.
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