between a rock and a hard place

phrase

variants or less commonly between the rock and the hard place

: in a difficult or uncomfortable position with no attractive way out

Examples of between a rock and a hard place in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Having receiver Cam Coleman opposite Ryan Wingo puts opposing secondaries between a rock and a hard place, because double-teaming one can result in the other going off. — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

In the colossal yet claustrophobic world that Khrzhanovsky has created (or recreated), Russians are stuck between a rock and a hard place, between the hammer and the sickle. — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026

Whitfield and campus leadership found themselves between a rock and a hard place at the end of the 2024-2025 school year, facing declining enrollment in grades 7-12 and a $300,000 budget deficit. — Lacey Beasley, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for between a rock and a hard place

• abase
• airspace
• apace
• backspace
• biface
• birthplace
• blackface
• boldface
• bookcase
• braincase
• briefcase
• carcase