entre la peste et le choléra

French

Etymology

Literally, “between the plague and cholera”. Compare Russian между чумой и холерой (meždu čumoj i xoleroj) and Norwegian Nynorsk mellom pest og kolera. See also Swedish and Danish pest eller kolera

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɑ̃.tʁə la pɛst e l(ə) kɔ.le.ʁa/

Prepositional phrase

entre la peste et le choléra

1. (figuratively) between the devil and the deep blue sea, between a rock and a hard place

Usage notes

Used with choisir and choix: devoir choisir entre la peste et le choléra, avoir le choix entre la peste et le choléra.