Phrase guide

between Scylla and Charybdis

prep_phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /bəˈtwiːn ˈsɪlə ænd kəˈɹɪbdɪs/
  • /bəˈtwiːn ˈsɪləɹ ænd kəˈɹɪbdɪs/ with intrusive r

1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

Between two dangers.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: between a rock and a hard place, between the hammer and the anvil, between the devil and the deep blue sea, between Scylla and Charybdis, between two fires, damned if one does and damned if one doesn't, doomed if you do, doomed if you don't, in a cleft stick, in bad bread, on the horns of a dilemma

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

27 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Breton: mont eus ar prad d'al lanneg — idiomatic
  • Breton: mont eus ar billig d'an tan — idiomatic
  • Chinese Mandarin: 進退維谷 /进退维谷 (jìntuìwéigǔ) — idiomatic
  • Danish: mellem Skylla og Karybdis — idiomatic
  • Esperanto: fali de sitelo en barelon — idiomatic
  • Finnish: Skyllan ja Kharybdiksen välillä — idiomatic
  • French: de Charybde en Scylla — idiomatic
  • Georgian: სკილასა და ქარიბდას შორის (sḳilasa da karibdas šoris) — idiomatic
  • Georgian: სცილასა და ქარიბდას შორის (scilasa da karibdas šoris) — idiomatic
  • German: vom Regen in die Traufe — idiomatic
  • German: vom Regen in die Traufe kommen — idiomatic
  • German: vom Regen in die Traufe geraten — idiomatic
  • German: zwischen Skylla und Charybdis sein — idiomatic
  • Greek: μεταξύ Σκύλλας και Χάρυβδης (metaxý Skýllas kai Cháryvdis) — idiomatic
  • Irish: amach as na muineacha is isteach sna driseacha — idiomatic
  • Italian: tra l'incudine e il martello — idiomatic
  • Italian: tra Scilla e Cariddi — idiomatic
  • Japanese: 前門の虎後門の狼 (zenmon no tora kōmon no ōkami) — idiomatic
  • Khmer: ចុះទឹកក្រពើរ ឡើងលើខ្លា (coh tɨk krɑpəə rɔɔ laəŋ ləə klaa) — idiomatic
  • Polish: między Scyllą a Charybdą — idiomatic
  • Polish: między młotem a kowadłem — idiomatic
  • Russian: ме́жду Сци́ллой и Хари́бдой (méždu Scílloj i Xaríbdoj) — idiomatic
  • Spanish: entre la espada y la pared — idiomatic
  • Spanish: entre Escila y Caribdis — idiomatic
  • Spanish: entre dos fuegos — idiomatic
  • Swedish: mellan Skylla och Karybdis — idiomatic
  • Ukrainian: між Скі́ллою і Харі́бдою (miž Skílloju i Xaríbdoju) — idiomatic