between the hammer and the anvil: meaning & examples

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Language: English

Meanings:

  • 2.

    Global EnglishformalMachine
    • Compelled to suffer consequences from both sides; squeezed or oppressed by two hostile pressures.

    Examples

    Beta

    • The small town was caught between the hammer and the anvil as two rival gangs battled for control.

      El pequeño pueblo estaba atrapado entre la espada y la pared mientras dos bandas rivales luchaban por el control.

    • Feeling between the hammer and the anvil, Maria struggled to please both her demanding clients and her disapproving family.

      Sintiendo que estaba entre la espada y la pared, María luchaba por complacer tanto a sus exigentes clientes como a su familia desaprobadora.

    • When taxes increased and wages stagnated, the middle class found itself truly between the hammer and the anvil.

      Cuando los impuestos aumentaron y los salarios se estancaron, la clase media realmente se encontró entre la espada y la pared.

  • 1.

    Global EnglishformalMachine
    • Placed under pressure or attack from two opposing forces or parties so that any chosen course of action results in harm or disadvantage; trapped between conflicting powers.

    Examples

    Beta

    • During the negotiations, Sarah found herself caught between the hammer and the anvil, with both companies demanding exclusive rights.

      Durante las negociaciones, Sarah se encontró atrapada entre la espada y la pared, con ambas empresas exigiendo derechos exclusivos.

    • If you take the manager's side, you'll be between the hammer and the anvil when the employees complain.

      Si tomas el lado del gerente, estarás entre la espada y la pared cuando los empleados se quejen.

    • He was being squeezed between the hammer and the anvil, pressured by his family to move back home and by his boss to relocate for work.

      Estaba atrapado entre la espada y la pared, presionado por su familia para regresar a casa y por su jefe para trasladarse por trabajo.

Examples:

  • EN: Deep down, the Elder of the Jews was always between the hammer and the anvil, between the Jews and the Germans.
    ES: En el fondo, el Sabio de los judíos siempre estaba entre el martillo y el yunque, entre los judíos y los alemanes.
  • EN: [Mburanumwe speaking French] If they were to go further over, we'd be between the hammer and the anvil.
    ES: Si ellos avanzan, quedaríamos entre la espada y la pared.
  • EN: Even here... we are between the hammer and the anvil.
    ES: Ya estamos entre la espada y la pared.
  • EN: Also in the Russian language there are statements "from the fireyes into the fire, "" between the hammer and the anvil, "which all mean the same thing - in the case of two non-alternative options, still have to choose something, but we will not be happy with this choice.
    HI: इसके अलावा रूसी भाषा में "आग से" बयान हैंहाँ, आग में, "" हथौड़ा और एविल के बीच, "जिसका अर्थ है सब एक ही बात - दो गैर-वैकल्पिक विकल्पों के मामले में, अभी भी कुछ चुनना पड़ता है, लेकिन हम इस विकल्प से खुश नहीं होंगे
  • EN: I was caught between the hammer and the anvil.
    TE: నేను ఎలుగుబంటి మరియు డౌ మధ్య ఉనికిలో ఉన్న అంతర్గత కనెక్షన్ ద్వారా కొట్టబడ్డాను.

Related Idioms

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Source: Wiktionary