cleft stick

剑桥词典

 be in a cleft stick

to be in a situation where it is very difficult to decide what to do, usually because both of your two choices of action would cause problems
進退維穀，左右爲難；陷於窘境
UN troops are in a cleft stick : something has to be done for the civilian population , yet to retaliate would surely be the spark to ignite all-out war . 聯郃國軍隊進退兩難：爲了平民不得不採取行動，可是還擊勢必會引發全麪戰爭。 返回 cleft stick