damned if one does and damned if one doesn't
Appearance
(Redirected from damned if you do and damned if you don't)
English
[edit]Alternative forms
[edit]- damned if one does, and damned if one doesn't
- one's damned if one does and one's damned if one doesn't; one's damned if one does, and one's damned if one doesn't
Pronunciation
[edit]Audio (General Australian): (file)
Adjective
[edit]damned if one does and damned if one doesn't (not comparable)
- (informal, idiomatic) Of a situation where either choice results in a negative outcome.
- 1836, Lorenzo Dow, Reflections on the Love of God (1836), ch. 6, p. 30 (on the doctrine of Particular Election):
- You can and you can't—You shall and you shan't—You will and you won't—And you will be damned if you do—And you will be damned if you don't.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:in a dilemma
- If John leaves for New York to follow his career, his father will disinherit him. He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.
- Damned if I do and damned if I don't.
- Damned if you do and damned if you don't.
- 1836, Lorenzo Dow, Reflections on the Love of God (1836), ch. 6, p. 30 (on the doctrine of Particular Election):
Translations
[edit]dilemma with bad outcomes
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