Language: en
Meaning: (idiomatic,of tasks, issues, problems, items)To fit into neither of twocategoriesand, hence, be neglected orfail.1996, Mike Lawrence,A to Z of Sports Cars, 1945-1990:Unfortunately, itfell between two stools: it was not good enough to be a competition car and those who wanted a roadburner preferred theIso Grifo, which was better equipped.2006, Richard Rex,Henry VIII and the English Reformation:Even Henry's will embodies that suspension between two poles, orfalling between two stools, which characterises so much of his church's history from the point.2014, Robert Watt,Shakespeare's History Plays, page184:Patterson's therory has profound implications for any critical interpretation of the play: if, as she argues, we should recognise two distinct versions of the play with very different political effects, an interpretation which ignores the differences is likely tofall between two stools.; (idiomatic)To attempt tworolesandfailat both, when either could have beenaccomplishedsingly.1857,Anthony Trollope, “Barchester Towers”, inThe Century Co., published1902,page252:“[…]She [Dido] could not bear to lose the land she had got by a swindle; and then she could not bear the loss of her lover. So shefell between two stools.[…]”1910, Sydney Humphries,Oriental Carpets, Runners and Rugs and Some Jacquard Reproductions, READ BOOKS, published2010,→ISBN,page22:Failing to get rid of the old love [Medea] before taking on the new—in other words, wasting his strength over a new and untried method before having fully established the old—he [Jason]fell between two stools.1929, Charles Howard Ellis,The Origin, Structure & Working of the League of Nations, The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd., published2004,→ISBN,page153:The Council, by trying to combine its functions as the responsible executive of the League with some of the representative attributes of the Assembly, has to some extentfallen between two stools, and gives the impression of not being certain of its rôle.2003,Chris Jones,The Guerilla[sic]Film Makers Movie Blueprint, Continuum International Publishing Group,→ISBN,page21:As your chances of mega-success increase so do your chances offalling between two stools, and if you get it wrong, you could end up with a dog’s dinner that satisfies no one.
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