Between Scylla and Charybdis
Idiom / PhraseSSC PYQ × 4Choice between two unpleasant alternatives
इधर कुआँ, उधर खाई
The manager was between Scylla and Charybdis: cut salaries or close the branch.
Choosing between the two risky treatments left the family between Scylla and Charybdis.
Daily use: Dono raaste khatarnaak the, hum Scylla aur Charybdis ke beech phanse the.
एक तरफ़ चट्टान पर Scylla नाम की राक्षसी, दूसरी तरफ़ Charybdis नाम का विशाल भँवर। चट्टान के पास जाओ तो राक्षसी पकड़ ले, भँवर के पास जाओ तो जहाज़ डूब जाए। इसलिए between Scylla and Charybdis का अर्थ है दो ख़तरों के बीच चुनाव।
On one side stood Scylla, the monster on the rock; on the other was Charybdis, the giant whirlpool. Go near the rock and the monster attacks; go near the whirlpool and the ship sinks. So 'between Scylla and Charybdis' means a choice between two dangers.
इसका अर्थ है दो बराबर ख़तरनाक या अप्रिय विकल्पों में से चुनना। यह 'between a rock and a hard place' और 'between the devil and the deep blue sea' का classical जुड़वाँ है; one-word उत्तर 'dilemma' और 'quandary' हैं।
It means having to choose between two equally dangerous or unpleasant alternatives. It is a classical twin of 'between a rock and a hard place' and 'between the devil and the deep blue sea'; 'dilemma' and 'quandary' are the one-word answers.