بين المطرقة والسندان

Arabic

Etymology

Literally, “between the hammer and the anvil”. Calque of French entre le marteau et l’enclume.

Phrase

بَيْنَ ٱلْمِطْرَقَةِ وَٱلسَّنْدَانِ • (bayna l-miṭraqati wa-s-sandāni)

1. (idiomatic, formal) between the hammer and the anvil; between a rock and a hard place