Question

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea between two great dangers and not knowing what to do; in a very difficult position

Accepted Answer

Glenn had to choose between confessing that he hadn't studied or trying to fake it. He was between the devil and the deep blue sea. In the early 17th century the heavy plank fastened to the side of a vessel as a support for guns was called the devil. Sometimes a sailor had to go out onto this plank to do repairs to the boat. In heavy seas he would be in great danger of falling overboard and drowning because he was between "the devil and the deep blue sea." Over the centuries the meaning of this expression expanded to include being between two equally difficult perils of any kind.

Idiom	Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Example	Glenn had to choose between confessing that he hadn't studied or trying to fake it. He was between the devil and the deep blue sea.
Meaning	between two great dangers and not knowing what to do; in a very difficult position
Origin	In the early 17th century the heavy plank fastened to the side of a vessel as a support for guns was called the devil. Sometimes a sailor had to go out onto this plank to do repairs to the boat. In heavy seas he would be in great danger of falling overboard and drowning because he was between "the devil and the deep blue sea." Over the centuries the meaning of this expression expanded to include being between two equally difficult perils of any kind.

Devil Deep Blue Sea Great Difficult Heavy Plank