between the hammer and the anvil

== English == === Etymology === Referring to the metal on a blacksmith's anvil, which is beaten with a hammer. === Pronunciation === === Prepositional phrase === between the hammer and the anvil (chiefly UK, idiomatic) With the choice between two unpleasant or distasteful options; in a predicament or quandary. Synonyms: between a rock and a hard place, between Scylla and Charybdis, between the devil and the deep blue sea; see also Thesaurus:in a dilemma ==== Translations ====