fall between two stools

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From an old proverb, "Between two stools, one falls to the ground", which dates from 1390. This, in turn, is most likely a translation of the medieval Latin proverb labitur enitens sellis herere duabus ("he falls trying to sit on two seats").

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

• Hebrew: נָפַל בֵּין הַכִּסְאוֹת (nafál bēn hakis'ót) — to attempt two tasks and fail at both
• Hungarian: két szék között a pad alá esik — to attempt two tasks and fail at both
• Icelandic: setjast milli tveggja stóla — to attempt two tasks and fail at both
• Icelandic: gjalda óákveðni sinnar — to attempt two tasks and fail at both
• Japanese: 二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず (nito o ou mono wa itto o mo ezu) — to attempt two tasks and fail at both
• Latin: duabus sellis sedeo — to attempt two tasks and fail at both
• Polish: przegrywać na obu frontach — to attempt two tasks and fail at both
• Polish: przegrać na obu frontach — to attempt two tasks and fail at both