How do you say “Between a rock and a hard place” in Spanish?

The closest natural Spanish equivalent is estar entre la espada y la pared, which literally means “to be between the sword and the wall”. English speakers use between a rock and a hard place to mean to choose between two bad options. A close match with a different image: a sword and a wall. Register: informal. Usage frequency: common.

Closest natural Spanish

estar entre la espada y la pared

/esˈtaɾ ˈentɾe la esˈpaða i la paˈɾeð/

Literal meaning: “to be between the sword and the wall”
Register: informal
How often it's used: common
Equivalence: Near-exact equivalent
96 out of 100

What a native Spanish speaker would actually say

The sword threatens from one side while the wall blocks escape. Like the English phrase, it suits a choice where every option has a cost.

Use “estar” for being in that position. Use “poner” when something creates it: “La decisión me puso entre la espada y la pared.”

How close is the meaning?

Meaning5 out of 5
Tone5 out of 5
Context5 out of 5
Literal similarity3 out of 5

These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.

What are other ways to say it in Spanish?

tener que elegir entre dos males
Literally: “to have to choose between two evils”
Clearly describes having two bad choices.
estar en un callejón sin salida
Literally: “to be in a dead-end alley”
Broader: have no apparent way forward, without necessarily facing two alternatives.

In context

English
I'm between a rock and a hard place: both choices will hurt someone.
Spanish
Estoy entre la espada y la pared: cualquiera de las dos opciones perjudicará a alguien.
English
We're between a rock and a hard place: pay extra or miss the deadline.
Spanish
Estamos entre la espada y la pared: o pagamos más o no cumplimos el plazo.

Related expressions

What “Between a rock and a hard place” means in English
On thin ice, In a risky situation close to trouble.
The best of both worlds, Enjoying the benefits of two different things at once.

Last updated 2026-09-16