Dictionary

fall between two stools en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From an old proverb, "Between two stools, one falls to the ground", which dates from 1390. This, in turn, is most likely a translation of the medieval Latin proverb labitur enitens sellis herere duabus ("he falls trying to sit on two seats").

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, of tasks, qualifier:issues; problems; items; issues; problems; items) To fit into neither of two categories and, hence, be neglected or fail.
   • Patterson's therory has profound implications for any critical interpretation of the play: if, as she argues, we should recognise two distinct versions of the play with very different political effects, an interpretation which ignores the differences is likely to fall between two stools. 2014, Robert Watt, Shakespeare's History Plays, page 184:
   • Even Henry's will embodies that suspension between two poles, or falling between two stools, which characterises so much of his church's history from the point. 2006, Richard Rex, Henry VIII and the English Reformation:
   • Unfortunately, it fell between two stools: it was not good enough to be a competition car and those who wanted a roadburner preferred the Iso Grifo, which was better equipped. 1996, Mike Lawrence, A to Z of Sports Cars, 1945-1990:
2. (idiomatic) To attempt two roles and fail at both, when either could have been accomplished singly.
   • “[…] She Dido] could not bear to lose the land she had got by a swindle; and then she could not bear the loss of her lover. So she fell between two stools. […]” 1857, Anthony Trollope, “Barchester Towers”, in The Century Co., published 1902, page 252:
   • Failing to get rid of the old love Medea] before taking on the new—in other words, wasting his strength over a new and untried method before having fully established the old—he Jason] fell between two stools. 1910, Sydney Humphries, Oriental Carpets, Runners and Rugs and Some Jacquard Reproductions, READ BOOKS, published 2010, →ISBN, page 22:
   • As your chances of mega-success increase so do your chances of falling between two stools, and if you get it wrong, you could end up with a dog’s dinner that satisfies no one. 2003, Chris Jones, The Guerilla^([sic]) Film Makers Movie Blueprint, Continuum International Publishing Group, →ISBN, page 21:
   • The Council, by trying to combine its functions as the responsible executive of the League with some of the representative attributes of the Assembly, has to some extent fallen between two stools, and gives the impression of not being certain of its rôle. 1929, Charles Howard Ellis, The Origin, Structure & Working of the League of Nations, The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd., published 2004, →ISBN, page 153:

Forms

Relateds

out of the frying pan, into the fire

Synonyms

fall in a grey area

Translations (8)

la duabus sellis sedeo (to attempt two tasks and fail at both) · is gjalda óákveðni sinnar (to attempt two tasks and fail at both) · he נָפַל בֵּין הַכִּסְאוֹת (to attempt two tasks and fail at both) · ja 二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず (to attempt two tasks and fail at both) · pl przegrać na obu frontach (to attempt two tasks and fail at both) · pl przegrywać na obu frontach (to attempt two tasks and fail at both) · is setjast milli tveggja stóla (to attempt two tasks and fail at both) · hu két szék között a pad alá esik (to attempt two tasks and fail at both)