IdiomNature
French
FrenchEntre le marteau et l'enclume
Meaning: Caught between two opposing forces with no way out.
Literally: Between the hammer and the anvil
Example: “Entre la direction et les syndicats, le chef d'atelier est entre le marteau et l'enclume.” — Between management and the unions, the shop foreman is caught between a rock and a hard place.
English equivalent: Between a rock and a hard place
Equivalents in other languages
English: Origin: Both objects are unyielding and the pressure comes from both directions at once. English says between a rock and a hard place, which is the same geometry without the violence.
More French idioms
- Manu militari By force; with physical compulsion.
- Faire le matamore To swagger and bluster without the courage to back it up.
- Vendre la mèche To give away a secret or a plan.
- Le revers de la médaille The unwelcome other side of something good.
- À beau mentir qui vient de loin Travelers' tales cannot be checked, so they are told without restraint.
- Être à la merci de quelqu'un To be entirely in someone's power.
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- Tu es mon rayon de soleil A warm way to tell someone they brighten your day.
- Joli comme un cœur Utterly charming or adorable.
- Tu as un cœur d'or You are genuinely kind and generous.
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