phrase. 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.

What is the origin of between the devil and the deep blue sea?

This expression has existed since at least the 1600s. This expression doesn't have to do with the devil of the Bible but to a seam around a ship's hull near the water. When a sailor attempted to caulk this seam in heavy seas, he was in serious danger of failing overboard and drowning.

Who said between the devil and the deep blue sea?

The first recorded citation of 'the Devil and the deep sea' in print is in Robert Monro's His expedition with the worthy Scots regiment called Mac-keyes, 1637: "I, with my partie, did lie on our poste, as betwixt the devill and the deep sea."

How do you use between the devil and the deep blue sea in a sentence?

— Since we don't have enough money to send both our children to college, we're between the devil and the deep blue sea about what to do. — I'm caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. If I go on holiday during peak season, I may get fired but if I don't go, my girlfriend may leave me.

What ukulele does George Harrison play in the devil and the deep blue sea?

While in the video Harrison plays a Kamaka Liliu six-string ukulele in low-G tuning, this arrangement will work well in reentrant tuning and on any type of uke. Following an eight-bar intro, “Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea” has a classic 32-bar AABA song form, in which each section is eight bars.

Between the Devil and the deep blue sea

42 related questions found

What is the meaning of daggers drawn?

if two people are at daggers drawn, they feel very angry towards each other. She and her sister are at daggers drawn. Synonyms and related words. To disagree with someone or something.

What is the meaning of the idiom black sheep?

In the English language, black sheep is an idiom used to describe a member of a group, different from the rest, especially within a family, who does not fit in.

What is the meaning of moved earth and heaven?

Definition of move heaven and earth

: to work very hard to do something He vowed that he would move heaven and earth to finish the project on schedule.

What is a devilish person?

You can describe someone as devilish if they're nasty and cruel, although this adjective is also used for rascally or naughty people, like the devilish kids you babysit.

What does a devilish expression mean?

: evil and cruel. : showing a desire to cause trouble but in a way that is not serious.

What mean out of the blue?

When something happens out of the blue, it is a complete surprise. If you get a phone call out of the blue from an old friend, it's utterly unexpected. Use the phrase out of the blue when you need a casual way to describe something that surprises you and possibly seems to come from nowhere.

What is the meaning of between a rock and hard place?

See synonyms for between a rock and a hard place on Thesaurus.com. Faced with two equally dangerous or difficult choices or circumstances: “Trying to please two supervisors is like being between a rock and a hard place.” This phrase dates from the early twentieth century.

Do something till you're blue in the face?

If you say or shout something until you are blue in the face, you are wasting your efforts because you will get no results: You can tell her to clean her room until you are blue in the face, but she won't do it.

What is as good as a mile?

miss is as good as a mile, a

Coming close to success but failing is no better than failing by a lot, as in He was beaten by just one vote, but a miss is as good as a mile. This proverbial expression, first recorded in 1614, is a shortening of the older form, "An inch of a miss is as good [or bad] as a mile of a miss."

What does it mean to have an AXE to grind?

phrase. If someone has an axe to grind, they are doing something for selfish reasons. [informal, disapproval] He seems like a decent bloke and I've got no axe to grind with him. [ + with]

What is the meaning of idiom a white elephant?

a possession entailing great expense out of proportion to its usefulness or value to the owner: When he bought the mansion he didn't know it was going to be such a white elephant.

What is the meaning of to pick holes?

to try and make an idea or piece of work seem bad by finding all the things that are wrong or missing. It was almost impossible to pick holes in his argument. Synonyms and related words. To criticize, accuse or blame.

Can't cut the mustard idiom meaning?

To cut the mustard is “to reach or surpass the desired standard or performance” or more generally “to succeed, to have the ability to do something.” For instance, Beyoncé really cut the mustard in her new song.

What does the idiom in cold blood mean?

In a purposely ruthless and unfeeling manner, as in The whole family was murdered in cold blood. This expression alludes to the notion that blood is the seat of emotion and is hot in passion and cold in calm. The term therefore means not “in the heat of passion,” but “in a calculated, deliberate manner.” [ Late 1500s]

What is the meaning of the idiom a man of straw?

[British, formal] a man who does not have the ability or the courage necessary to carry out a particular task or to fulfil a particular role. Either he is a brave and principled national leader or he is a man of straw who does not deserve to win the next election. Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary.

What's the tuning for ukulele?

What Is Standard Ukulele Tuning? The open strings on a ukulele are most commonly tuned to the notes G, C, E, and A. This is known as standard tuning. To create a more rounded even sound, some people prefer to string their ukulele with a low G string rather than a high G.

What are green thumbs?

an exceptional aptitude for gardening or for growing plants successfully: Houseplants provide much pleasure for the city dweller with a green thumb.