خياران أحلاهما مر

Arabic

Etymology

Literally: “two options the sweeter of which is bitter”.

Noun

خِيارَانِ أَحْلاهُمَا مُرٌّ • (ḵiyārāni ʔaḥlāhumā murrun) m du (duale tantum)

1. (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.”)