Between the devil and the deep blue sea

"Between the devil and the deep blue sea" is an idiomatic phrase that is used to describe a difficult or unenviable situation where a person must choose between two equally undesirable options. It implies being caught in a situation where there is no favorable choice or outcome, and both alternatives are potentially dangerous or troublesome. The phrase originates from maritime contexts, where "the devil" refers to the seam (or wooden strip) between the deck planks, and "the deep blue sea" represents the ocean, suggesting that being stuck in this situation is akin to being trapped between two perilous places.