between the devil and the deep blue sea 形容某人处于进退两难的境地。该表达的产生与航海有关。

词组中的devil 并不指恶魔，而是指船体的接缝，或指用作托枪之用的厚板间的船缝，尤指最靠两舷的长缝。A sailor was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea 即指船员的处境十分危险。