a Sophie's choice

Meaning: An agonizing choice between two terrible options.

Example: “Choosing between her job and caring for her father felt like a Sophie's choice.”

Origin: From William Styron's novel Sophie's Choice (1979) and its 1982 film, in which a mother at Auschwitz is forced to choose which of her two children will live.

Equivalents in other languages

French: Un choix cornélien Literally: A Cornelian choice

More English idioms

kicking and screaming Very reluctantly, protesting all the way.
hands down Easily; without question.
like a bolt from the blue Completely unexpected, usually of bad news.
the sword of Damocles A constant threat of disaster hanging over someone.
the deck is stacked The situation is unfairly arranged so that someone will lose.
after me, the deluge I don't care what happens after I am gone.

Explore another collection: False Friends

Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.

Pain Actually means 'bread'. The hurting kind of pain is la douleur.
Coin Actually means 'corner'. A coin you spend is une pièce.
Caldo Actually means 'hot' (or a hot broth). Cold is freddo.

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Equivalents in other languages

More idioms — Daily Life

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