خياران أحلاهما مر
Arabic
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Literally: “two options the sweeter of which is bitter”.
Noun
[edit]خِيارَانِ أَحْلاهُمَا مُرٌّ • (ḵiyārāni ʔaḥlāhumā murrun) m du (duale tantum)
- (idiomatic) a choice between two unpleasant alternatives; expresses between a rock and a hard place, between the hammer and the anvil, between the devil and the deep blue sea
- نَحْنُ أَمامَ خِيارَيْنِ أَحْلاهُمَا مُرٌّ.
- naḥnu ʔamāma ḵiyārayni ʔaḥlāhumā murrun.
- We are caught between a rock and a hard place.
- (literally, “We are faced with two options the sweeter of which is bitter.”)