between the devil and the deep blue sea

phrase

: faced with two equally objectionable alternatives

Word History

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of between the devil and the deep blue sea was in 1874

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between Scylla and Charybdis

between the devil and the deep blue sea

between-the-lens shutter

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“Between the devil and the deep blue sea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/between%20the%20devil%20and%20the%20deep%20blue%20sea. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

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Last Updated: 24 Feb 2026 - Definition revised

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between the devil and the deep blue sea

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