between Scylla and Charybdis en · ADP
Pronunciation
- /bəˈtwiːn ˈsɪləɹ ænd kəˈɹɪbdɪs/ with intrusive r
- /bəˈtwiːn ˈsɪlə ænd kəˈɹɪbdɪs/
Etymology
From Homer's Odyssey, where Odysseus and his men had to sail between these two locations (respectively, a rock personified as a monster, and a large whirlpool) en route returning to Ithaca from Troy.
Meanings
-
(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 wise, and so safely steer between Scylla and Charybdis, that my opinions shall not be concealed, though some matters may be omitted in my history.
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, →OCLC; republished as The Portrait of a Lady (EBook #283), United States: Project Gutenberg, 1 September 2001:
Relateds
Synonyms
between the devil and the deep blue sea · between the hammer and the anvil · on the horns of a dilemma · between the hammer and the anvil · doomed if you do · between a rock and a hard place · between a rock and a hard place · between Scylla and Charybdis · in a cleft stick · between two fires · doomed if you don't · between the devil and the deep blue sea · in bad bread · damned if one does and damned if one doesn't
Translations (27)
ru ме́жду Сци́ллой и Хари́бдой (idiomatic) · de zwischen Skylla und Charybdis sein (idiomatic) · br mont eus ar billig d'an tan (idiomatic) · it tra Scilla e Cariddi (idiomatic) · de vom Regen in die Traufe (idiomatic) · ja 前門の虎、後門の狼 (idiomatic) · de vom Regen in die Traufe kommen (idiomatic) · it tra l'incudine e il martello (idiomatic) · km ចុះទឹកក្រពើរ ឡើងលើខ្លា (idiomatic) · ka სცილასა და ქარიბდას შორის (idiomatic) · ga amach as na muineacha is isteach sna driseacha (idiomatic) · fi Skyllan ja Kharybdiksen välillä (idiomatic) · es entre Escila y Caribdis (idiomatic) · ka სკილასა და ქარიბდას შორის (idiomatic) · de vom Regen in die Traufe geraten (idiomatic) · el μεταξύ Σκύλλας και Χάρυβδης (idiomatic) · fr de Charybde en Scylla (idiomatic) · pl między młotem a kowadłem (idiomatic) · es entre dos fuegos (idiomatic) · da mellem Skylla og Karybdis (idiomatic) · uk між Скі́ллою і Харі́бдою (idiomatic) · eo fali de sitelo en barelon (idiomatic) · es entre la espada y la pared (idiomatic) · br mont eus ar prad d'al lanneg (idiomatic) · sv mellan Skylla och Karybdis (idiomatic) · cmn 進退維谷 /进退维谷 (idiomatic) · pl między Scyllą a Charybdą (idiomatic)