Lee....

[Ju]

Lee is under two bosses in her workplace. The two bosses are having heavy conflict that both sides are saying different stories to Lee for their own benefit. Lee is in a very difficult position that she does not know which side she should follow.

1) How should I describe Lee's situation?

2) How should I describe Lee's intention if she chooses not to listen to both sides and stays neutral?

Thank you.

 

[Tdol]

1 It's a dilemma, she's caught between the devil and the deep blue sea
2 If you sit on the fence, you try not to take sides

 

[Ju]

1 It's a dilemma, she's caught between the devil and the deep blue sea
2 If you sit on the fence, you try not to take sides

"It's a dilemma, she's caught between the devil and the deep blue sea
If you sit on the fence, you try not to take sides."

What do they mean of deep blue sea and on the fence?

Thank you,

 

[Rover_KE]

Between the devil and the deep blue sea, or between a rock and a hard place are idiomatic expressions describing Lee's predicament, Ju.

In both cases she is caught between two equally unpleasant situations.

When she's sitting on the fence she's considering which side to come down on.

Rover

 

[Khosro]

When she's sitting on the fence she's considering which side to come down on.

Rover

What if she doesn't want to come to any of the two sides?

 

[Rover_KE]

She has to remain on the fence until the situation is resolved in some other way.

She's still in an unenviable position. . .between the horns of a dilemma, to quote another relevant idiom.

Rover

 

[anishjp]

Hi

Can I use the term "catch 22" for such a situation?

Regards,
Anish

<Not a teacher>

 

[Barb_D]

No, a Catch 22 is when you can't do A until you've done B, but you can't do B until you've done A.

You can't get a job unless you have experience in the industry, but you can't get experience until you get a job.

You can't get financing until you show a success track record of success, but you can't show success until you get financing.

The origin is in a book when the character wanted to be determined insane to get out of the Army. He couldn't be discharged until he agreed that he was insane, but being able to articulate that was an indicated or sanity (if my memory serves).

 

[Ju]

No, a Catch 22 is when you can't do A until you've done B, but you can't do B until you've done A.

You can't get a job unless you have experience in the industry, but you can't get experience until you get a job.

You can't get financing until you show a success track record of success, but you can't show success until you get financing.

The origin is in a book when the character wanted to be determined insane to get out of the Army. He couldn't be discharged until he agreed that he was insane, but being able to articulate that was an indicated or sanity (if my memory serves).

How should I make a sentence of Catch 22?

Shall I say,

I am in catch 22.

Thank you.

 

[Ju]

She has to remain on the fence until the situation is resolved in some other way.

She's still in an unenviable position. . .between the horns of a dilemma, to quote another relevant idiom.

Rover

Shall I say,

I prefer to stay on the fence in order not to irritate either of them.

Thank you.

 

[Rover_KE]

Shall I say,

I prefer to stay on the fence in order not to irritate either of them.

Thank you.

You could say that, yes.

Rover

 

[Tdol]

How should I make a sentence of Catch 22?

Shall I say,

I am in catch 22.

Thank you.

You see people use things likeI'm caught in/It's a Catch 22 situation...