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Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.
Making choices is necessary, but not always easy. Many of our expressions tell about this difficulty.
One of these expressions is Hobson’s choice.? It often is used to describe a difficult choice. But that is not what it really means. Its real meaning is to have no choice at all.
The Hobson in the expression was Thomas Hobson. Mister Hobson owned a stable of horses in Cambridge, England.
Mister Hobson often rented horses to the students at Cambridge University. But, he did not really trust them to take good care of the horses. So, he had a rule that prevented the students from riding his best horses. They could take the horse that was nearest the stable door. Or, they could not take any horse at all.
Thus, a Hobson’s choice was really no choice.
Another expression for having no real choice is between a rock and a hard place. It is often used to describe a difficult situation with few choices, none of them good.
For example, your boss may ask you to work late. But you have plans to go to a movie with your friends.? If you refuse to work, your boss gets angry. But if you do not go to the movies with your friends, they may get angry. So what do you do? You are caught between a rock and a hard place.
Another expression, between the devil and the deep blue sea, also gives you a choice between two equally dangerous things.
Its meaning seems clear. You can choose the devil and his burning fires of hell.? Or, you can choose to drown in the sea. Some word experts say the expression comes from the days of wooden ships.
The devil is a word for a seam between two pieces of wood along the water-line of a ship. If the seam or crack between the two pieces of wood begins to leak, then a sailor must fix it. The sailor ordered to make the repairs was in a dangerous situation. He was hanging over the side of the ship, working between the devil and the deep blue sea.
There is still another expression that describes a situation with only bad choices, being on the horns of a dilemma.
The dictionary says a dilemma is a situation in which you must make a decision about two equally balanced choices. When your dilemma has horns, a choice becomes impossible.? When you are on the horns of a dilemma, no matter which horn you choose, something bad will happen.
(MUSIC)
This VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, was written by Marilyn Christiano. I’m Christopher Cruise.
Listen? Email? Print? Comments?Comments (20)16-04-2011Edgar Guariguata(Venezuela)Here in Venezuela we say between sword and the wall when we are in difficult situation making choices
17-04-2011sam(china)good expressions
17-04-2011seisuch a useful expressions! i've been caught beetween a rock and a hard place~ :(
17-04-2011Violet(China)I like Words and Stories very much because I can learn very pure English expression through it. Having the story makes us easy to understand and remember. Thanks a lot VOA!!!
17-04-2011Takashi amo(Japan)I very much take an interst in this kind of program every timeit appears on the internet.
17-04-2011Medhat(cairo-egypt..)very beneficial expressions, but i'm between a rock and hard place to say that u are excellent or very good...
17-04-2011MR MU(Vietnam)I'm on the horns of a dilemma right now!
17-04-2011Alex Smirnov(Russia)Once upon a time I was maneuvered into dilemma by my boss and I was in a dilemma for a while.Then I was on the horns of dilemma. I had chosen lesser evil between two ones. Had I chosen right decision?
17-04-2011(Jordan)thank you very much for your efforts.
17-04-2011Bob(Mali)This program makes me happy all the times.Please don't stop producing itas it help me increase my knowledges.You're the best in the world VOA.Thank you
17-04-2011JUDIH-PERUI WOULD CHOICE TO GO WITH MY FRIENDS:::
18-04-2011D??ngi love too. it is so helpful and interesting. i love voa and love your story
18-04-2011J.u.l.i.a.n.a(Brazil)It is very interesting to discover tipical expressions about ordinary situations of our lives. Voa is making an excellent work ... Thank you!
18-04-2011Immang Habib(Indonesia)very difficult choices and interesting story. thanks a million VOA.
18-04-2011forest(China)Learning English or not is also a Hobson’s choice!
18-04-2011SarahThanks VOA for every Words and Their stories program. This program was very interesting.
18-04-2011jenson(china)VOA is useful to my english ,thanks a lot
18-04-2011so sweet nad nice
18-04-2011M.Haroon Amarkhail(Afghanistan)Expressions are really difficult for ESL students, thus I suggest to use simple and clear expression that public could catch the comprehenssion.
18-04-2011Marina(Cambodia)VOA helps my English a lot. thanks you so much.
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