Phrase guide

on the horns of a dilemma

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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ɒn‿ðə ˈhɔːnz‿əv‿ə daɪˈlɛmə/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /-dɪˈlɛmə/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ɑn‿ðə ˈhɔɹnz‿əv‿ə daɪˈlɛmə/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɛmə

1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

Facing a choice between two equally undesirable alternatives.

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 Scylla and Charybdis, damned if one does and damned if one doesn't, between the devil and the deep blue sea, between the hammer and the anvil, between two fires, 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

From horn (“alternative in an argument”), from Latin argūmentum cornūtum (“argument with alternatives”, literally “horned argument”), a reference to an alternative that one can metaphorically get caught on or injured by.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: valita ruton ja koleran väliltä — Translations
  • French: entre le marteau et l’enclume — Translations
  • Polish: między młotem a kowadłem — Translations
  • Spanish: entre la espada y la pared — Translations