Nunc ego inter sacrum saxumque sto, nec quid faciam scio. The title alludes to being stuck between a rock and a hard place: “the devil” and the “Deep Blue Sea”. the authentic origin of ‘to rain cats and dogs’, the authentic origin of ‘a pretty kettle of fish’, origin of ‘to buttonhole’ (to detain in conversation), the authentic origin of ‘the devil to pay’, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence. Meaning: A situation where a person is caught between two difficult or dangerous obstacles. The popularity of the song ensured the idiom’s use for more generations to come. Incontinent from our Batteries, our Cannon did play againe within the Leaguer, which continued the whole day, doing great hurt on both sides, where the whole time, I with my partie, did lie on our Poste, as betwixt the Devill and the deepe Sea, for sometimes our owne Cannon would light short, and grase [= graze] over us, and so did the enemies [= enemies’] also, where we had three shot with the Cannon, till I directed an Officer to our owne Batteries, acquainting them with our hurt, and desiring they should stell [= place] or plant the Cannon higher. Explanation for the 'Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea' phrase in the Phrases.com dictionary. Watch Trailer. Ἔμπροσθεν κρημνός, ὄπισθεν λύκοι, id est A fronte praecipitium, a tergo lupi. The word devil in this sense is first recorded in 1744 in the phrase the devil to pay and no pitch hot. Hence, anyone who found himself between the devil and the waterline of a ship or the deep blue sea had a very narrow margin for choice." The police knew with certainty he had drugs in his car, so he became trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea: either lie to the police, or admit that the drugs belonged to him. Ona is experiencing that period. Top synonym for between the devil and the deep blue sea (another word for between the devil and the deep blue sea) is between a rock and a hard place. Among the most popular of English sayings, the origins of this particular idiom is routinely debated, with some tracing the saying back to the days of Roman and Greek mythology. BE BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA | meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary Meaning of be between the devil and the deep blue sea in English be between the devil and the deep blue sea to have two choices that are both equally unpleasant or not convenient Learn more. This expression has existed since at least the 1600s. The mythical situation also developed a proverbial use in which seeking to choose between equally dangerous extremes is seen as leading inevitably to disaster. A term dating back to the early seventeenth century, it referred not to the devil of hellfire and brimstone but to a seam around a ship’s hull near the waterline. between the devil and the deep blue sea. Betwixt the Deuill and the dead sea. Answer: First seen in print in 1621, this phrase has a nautical origin. Vincent seeks guidance from Ivyafter learning that Klaus' erratic behavior is escalating. between the sledgehammer and the anvil. Someone suspended, eg for painting the ship, over the gunwale would have only the sea below him. Between the Democrats and Abolitionists at the North is as. The origin of inter sacrum saxumque (inter means between and que means and) is that, in the most ancient times, the animal for sacrifice (sacrum) was killed by being struck with a stone (saxum): to stand between the victim and the stone would therefore imply being in a position of extreme danger. December 22, 2020 SPICe EU & International Affairs, Rural Affairs Comments Off on Between the devil and the deep blue sea – What does no deal mean for fisheries? Question: Where did the phrase “between the devil and the deep blue sea” originate, and what does it mean? Definitions, usage examples and translations inside. The sea turned blue much later and the phrase became well-known via the title of a popular song. The many motivations of Jack Tar "We are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea . Between the devil and the deep blue sea Everywhere I turn it's got a hold on me Between the devil and the deep blue sea Everywhere I run it won't let me be Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea Between the devil and the deep blue sea Can somebody somebody somebody help me please Between the thunder and the driving rain Could I ever be, be the same again Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea … What does the 'Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea' phrase mean? Another early form of the English phrase. The sea turned blue much later and the phrase became well-known via the title of a popular song Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, written by Ted Koehler and Harold Arlen, and recorded by Cab Calloway in 1931. The reference to the sea in this phrase has suggested to some ‘etymologists’ a nautical origin: here, devil would be the sailors’ word defined by the British naval officers William Henry Smyth (1788-1865) and Edward Belcher (1799-1877) in The Sailor’s Word-Book (London, 1867): The seam which margins the water-ways was called the “devil,” why only caulkers can tell, who perhaps found it sometimes difficult for their tools. This is a decision between the devil and the deep blue sea, 2. I was between the devil and the deep blue sea, for if I didn't take out another loan—and go deeper into debt—I could not pay off the debts I already owed. Reading Time: 6 minutes Negotiations between the UK Government and the EU continue with rumours of progress often being countered hours later by suggestions of new setbacks. The Latin proverb a fronte praecipitium, a tergo lupi, literally a precipice in front, wolves behind, appeared with its Greek equivalent in Adagiorum chiliades (Thousands of adages – 1508), an annotated collection of Greek and Latin proverbs by the Dutch humanist and scholar Desiderius Erasmus (circa 1469-1536): A fronte praecipitium, a tergo lupi The “devil” referred to one of two seams that ran the length of a ship’s wooden deck. – origin of ‘Indian summer’ and French ‘été sauvage’ ; Coronation Street (Sunday, ITV1, 8pm), Sustainable seafood: all fish dishes are not created equal, Today's Action: Tremallt run may boost Kingsmark, Tucholke, April Genevieve. Freya goes to Mystic Falls to check on Hope, who has been sent back to the Salvatore School. "Between the devil and the deep blue sea" is an idiom meaning a dilemma. I can see you're caught between the devil and the deep blue sea — if you support your daughter, your partner will be hurt. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea Meaning. Between the devil and the deep blue sea The phrase was originally 'Between the Devil and the deep sea'. Idiom: (caught) between the devil and the deep blue sea. Synopsis. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. Several other idioms, such as "on the horns of a dilemma", "between the devil and the deep blue sea", and "between a rock and a hard place" express similar meanings. ‘Once again the affable Scot, who had already suspended the institutions twice in four months, was on the cusp of another deadline and between the devil and the deep blue sea.’. The form with blue seems to date from the second half of the 19th century only; for instance, in King and Queen County, Virginia (New York and Washington, 1908), Alfred Bagby (1828-1925), pastor of Mattaponi Baptist Church, quoted Diary of Civil War, by Dr. B. H. W., which contains the following for 14th November 1862: To-day elections are held in New York and some eight other States north. Cum aliquis hinc atque hinc duobus maximis premitur malis, ut, in utruncunque inciderit, pereundum sit. I was between the devil and the deep blue sea, for if I didn't take out another loan—and go deeper into debt—I could not pay off the debts I … Now between the sacrifice and the stone do I stand, nor know I what to do. – origin of ‘to buttonhole’ (to detain in conversation) In a difficult situation where there are two equally unpleasant choices. In this situation, the government finds itself caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. While the expression has been around for a long time, it was in 1931 that the musical team of Ted Koehler and Harold Arlen wrote the love ballad Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, adding the word “blue” to the already common phrase. Between The Devil. – origin of ‘to turn a blind eye’. – the authentic origin of ‘a pretty kettle of fish’ Incontinent from our Batteries, our Cannon did play againe within the Leaguer, which continued the whole day, doing great hurt on both sides, where the whole time, I with my partie, did lie on our Poste, To-day elections are held in New York and some eight other States north. between the devil and the deep blue sea Facing two equally unpleasant, dangerous, or risky alternatives, when the avoidance of one ensures encountering the harm of the other. Between the devil and the deep blue sea Meaning: you are caught between two bad choices, neither choice is good. When someone is hard pressed on both sides by two great evils, so that whichever he falls into, he is bound to be lost. When someone is hard pressed on both sides by two great evils, so that whichever he falls into, he is bound to be lost. Cum aliquis hinc atque hinc duobus maximis premitur malis, ut, in utruncunque inciderit, pereundum sit. If you say that you are between the devil and the deep blue sea, you mean that you are in a difficult situation where you have to choose between two equally unpleasant courses of action. An abyss in front, and wolves behind. Learn more, including how we use cookies and how you can change your settings. The Latin equivalents of this phrase [see below] that its first known users gave in the 17th century show that it most probably originated in the image of a choice between damnation (“the devil”) and drowning (“the sea”). Related to between the devil and the deep blue sea: Facing two equally unpleasant, dangerous, or risky alternatives, when the avoidance of one ensures encountering the harm of the other. See full dictionary …                                                                                                      Now am I utterly undone, I have exposed several other folk etymologies, in particular in the following articles: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea may also refer to: Between the Devil and the Deep Sea. between the devil and the deep blue sea in a sentence - Use "between the devil and the deep blue sea" in a sentence 1. But the forms between the devil and the Dead Sea and between the devil and the deep sea of the phrase are attested more than a century before the nautical sense of devil. – to buy a pig in a poke vs. to let the cat out of the bag A Dash by Plane to Seething Morocco, a 1924 book by Knud Holmboe The usual explanation of ‘Hobson’s choice’ is fallacious. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. One is that the "devil" was the curved seam in the deck planking closest to the side of the ship near the scuppers. And The Deep Blue Sea. What Does Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea Mean? – The usual explanation of ‘Hobson’s choice’ is fallacious. Between the Spark and the Burn, better than a poke in the eye (with a sharp stick), better the devil you know than the devil you don't, better the devil you know than the devil you don't know, better the devil you know than the one you don't know, between (someone or something) and (someone or something else), between two stools, one falls to the ground, between you and me and the bedpost/gatepost/four walls/lamppost, between you, (and) me, and these four walls, between two stools one falls to the ground, between two stools you fall to the ground. – origin of ‘point-blank’ I cheated on the test, and now, I'm caught between the devil and the deep blue sea—I either have to confess to my teacher or live with the guilt. OPEC is between the devil and the deep blue sea. The Latin phrase inter sacrum saxumque is from Captivi (The Captives), a play by the Roman comic dramatist Titus Maccius Plautus (circa 250-184 BC): Nunc ego omnino occidi, Origin of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. A choice between two evils. (translation: Denis L. Drysdall – University of Toronto Press, 2005). An abyss in front, and wolves behind. I have exposed several other folk etymologies, in particular in the following articles: origin of ‘Indian summer’ and French ‘été sauvage’. If you slipped, you could wind up “between the devil and the deep blue sea”. ... We then break down the norms that we consider binding us, questioning the direction of life and the meaning of our own lives. The phrase is therefore comparable to between a rock and a hard place and to the French idiom entre le marteau et l’enclume, i.e. Ἔμπροσθεν κρημνός, ὄπισθεν λύκοι, id est A fronte praecipitium, a tergo lupi. Example: The man was caught in a fire, he was on the third floor of an apartment building and the flames were already scorching him. translation: Another early form of the English phrase, between the devil and the deep sea, is first recorded in Monro his Expedition with the worthy Scots Regiment (called Mac-Keyes Regiment) levied in August 1626 (London, 1637), by Robert Monro (died 1680), a Scottish soldier who served as lieutenant-colonel in the Swedish army during the Thirty Years War; in the chapter titled The thirteenth Duty discharged at our Royall Leaguer of Werben on the Elve against Generall Tillio his Army, he relates the Battle of Breitenfeld, near Leipzig, in 1631: I was ordained with my Musketiers to remain on our former Poste, his Majestie and the rest of the partie being retired within the Leaguer. between the devil and the deep blue sea In a position between two undesirable alternatives; from the old nautical use of the word devil to mean a ship’s gunwale. be between the devil and the deep blue sea meaning: 1. to have two choices that are both equally unpleasant or not convenient 2. to have two choices…. I was ordained with my Musketiers to remain on our former Poste, his Majestie and the rest of the partie being retired within the Leaguer. – the authentic origin of ‘to rain cats and dogs’ Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea Meaning Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea is an idiom. Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary, the webmaster's page for free fun content, Between the devil and the deep blue sea: humanising the refugee debate, Television: Sally's all knotted up! phrase. The meaning of this idiom is The phrase between the devil and the deep blue sea is an idiom referring to a dilemma, a choice between two undesirable situations. The word devil in this sense is first recorded in 1744 in the phrase the devil to pay and no pitch hot. Another way to say Between The Devil And The Deep Sea? Origin: The phrase was originally 'Between the Devil and the deep sea'. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Between two equally unacceptable choices. The reference to the sea in this phrase has suggested to some ‘etymologists’ a nautical origin: here. - The full answer: The phrase was originally 'Between the Devil and the deep sea' (and sometimes 'the Dead Sea' or 'the Red Sea'). BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA - "Between equally dangerous options. https://www.theidioms.com/between-the-devil-and-the-deep-blue-sea Synonyms for Between The Devil And The Deep Sea (other words and phrases for Between The Devil And The Deep Sea). One of them is nautical in origin and relates to the days of wooden ships and their upkeep. – Kilkenny cats A sailor attempting to caulk this seam in heavy seas was in danger of falling overboard and drowning. A common idiomatic expression in use in many English speaking countries is the reference to being caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/between+the+devil+and+the+deep+blue+sea. in a difficult and inescapable position. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The expression is of nautical origin where 'the devil' means the seam on a ship's deck nearest its side. More importantly, the forms between the devil and the Dead Sea and between the devil and the deep sea did not first appear in nautical contexts; on the contrary, the Latin equivalents that were given associated the phrase with a precipice or with a stone, and Robert Monro described a land-battle. Between The Devil and the deep blue sea : Phrases Meaning: In difficulty, between two dangerous alternatives. The schoolmaster and author William Walker (1623-84) gave a different Latin equivalent in the English-Latin phrase book. With this assertion, barrister and refugee advocate Jessie Taylor pinpoints the premise of, So that French electors will in two weeks be presented with a choice, An eco-minded fish lover who commits this little cheat sheet to memory won't be left stranded. 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