dilemma

di·lem·ma

D0224700 (dĭ-lĕm′ə)n.1. A situation that requires a choice between options that are or seem equally unfavorable or unsatisfactory.2. Usage Problem A problem that seems to defy a satisfactory solution.3. Logic An argument that presents two alternatives, each of which has the same consequence.

[Late Latin, from Greek dilēmma, ambiguous proposition : di-, two; see di-¹ + lēmma, proposition; see lemma¹.]

dil′em·mat′ic (dĭl′ə-măt′ĭk) adj.Usage Note: In its traditional use, dilemma refers to a situation in which a choice must be made between alternative courses of action or argument. The word is also used more loosely to mean "problem" or "predicament" without implying that a choice must be made. This usage has been criticized by language critics, and the Usage Panel still supports this view, but this support has been eroding over time. In our 1999 survey, 58 percent of the Usage Panel rejected the sentence Historically, race has been the great dilemma of democracy. This is a significant decrease from the 74 percent that rejected a similar sentence in 1988. · It is sometimes claimed that because the di- in dilemma comes from a Greek prefix meaning "two," the word should be used only when exactly two choices are involved. In 2005, some 58 percent of the Panel reported that they followed this restriction in their own writing. The remaining 42 percent said that the word could acceptably be used for more than two choices. It seems unlikely that writers will be taken to task for ignoring the two-choice limit.

dilemma

(dɪˈlɛmə; daɪ-) n1. a situation necessitating a choice between two equal, esp equally undesirable, alternatives2. a problem that seems incapable of a solution3. (Logic) logic a form of argument one of whose premises is the conjunction of two conditional statements and the other of which affirms the disjunction of their antecedents, and whose conclusion is the disjunction of their consequents. Its form is if p then q and if r then s; either p or r so either q or s4. on the horns of a dilemma a. faced with the choice between two equally unpalatable alternativesb. in an awkward situation[C16: via Latin from Greek, from di-¹ + lēmma assumption, proposition, from lambanein to take, grasp] dilemmatic, dilˈemmic adjUsage: The use of dilemma to refer to a problem that seems incapable of a solution is considered by some people to be incorrect

di•lem•ma

(dɪˈlɛm ə)

n., pl. -mas. 1. a situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable alternatives. 2. any perplexing situation or problem. 3. a form of syllogism in which the major premise is formed of two or more conditional propositions and the minor premise is a disjunctive proposition, as “If A, then B; if C then D. Either A or C. Therefore, either B or D.” [1515–25; < Late Latin < Greek dílēmma=di- di-¹ + lêmma an assumption, premise, derivative of lambánein to take] dil•em•mat•ic (ˌdɪl əˈmæt ɪk) adj. dil`em•mat′i•cal•ly, adv. syn: See predicament.

Thesaurus

Noun

dilemma - state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable optionsquandaryperplexity - trouble or confusion resulting from complexitydouble bind - (psychology) an unresolvable dilemma; situation in which a person receives contradictory messages from a person who is very powerful

dilemma

noun predicament, problem, difficulty, spot (informal), fix (informal), mess, puzzle, jam (informal), embarrassment, plight, strait, pickle (informal), how-do-you-do (informal), quandary, perplexity, tight corner or spot The issue raises a moral dilemma.on the horns of a dilemma between the devil and the deep blue sea, between a rock and a hard place (informal), between Scylla and Charybdis I found myself on the horns of a dilemma - whatever I did, it would be wrong.Usage: The use of dilemma to refer to a problem that seems incapable of a solution is considered by some people to be incorrect. To avoid this misuse of the word, an appropriate alternative such as predicament could be used.

dilemma

nounA difficult, often embarrassing situation or condition:box, corner, deep water, difficulty, Dutch, fix, hole, hot spot, hot water, jam, plight, predicament, quagmire, scrape, soup, trouble.Informal: bind, pickle, spot.

Translations

困境窘境进退两难

dilemma

(diˈlemə) , (ˈdailemə) noun a position or situation giving two choices, neither pleasant. His dilemma was whether to leave the party early so as to get a lift in his friend's car, or to stay and walk eight kilometres home. 困境，进退两难

dilemma

→ 窘境zhCN

dilemma

be on the horns of a dilemma

To struggle to choose between two problematic or unappealing options. I'm really on the horns of a dilemma here: do I say no to this great job opportunity, or do I accept it and move away from my family?See also: dilemma, horn, of, on

on the horns of a dilemma

Struggling to choose between two problematic or unappealing options. I'm really on the horns of a dilemma here—do I say no to this great job opportunity, or do I accept it and move away from my family?See also: dilemma, horn, of, on

the horns of a dilemma

Two problematic or unappealing options that one must choose between. I'm really on the horns of a dilemma here—do I say no to this great job opportunity, or do I accept it and move away from my family?See also: dilemma, horn, of

on the horns of a dilemma

Fig. having to decide between two things, people, etc. Mary found herself on the horns of a dilemma. She didn't know which to choose. I make up my mind easily. I'm not on the horns of a dilemma very often.See also: dilemma, horn, of, on

horns of a dilemma, on the

Faced with two equally undesirable alternatives. For example, I'm on the horns of a dilemma: if I sell the house now I have no place to live, but if I wait I may not get as good a price . This term was first recorded about 1600, but the idea of being caught on either one horn or the other (of an animal) was already expressed in Roman times. See also: horn, of, on

the horns of a dilemma

If you are on the horns of a dilemma, you have to make a difficult choice between two alternatives. I find myself on the horns of a dilemma — whichever option I take, I'm going to disappoint someone. The police were on the horns of a dilemma. The girl appeared to be telling the truth, but it was her word against that of three officials. Note: In logic, a dilemma is a situation where an argument leads to two choices which are both undesirable. In the Middle Ages, a dilemma was traditionally represented as an animal with two horns such as a bull. See also: dilemma, horn, of

on the horns of a dilemma

faced with a decision involving equally unfavourable alternatives. A mid 16th-century source described a dilemma as ‘a horned argument’ (after Latin argumentum cornutum ), the idea being that if you avoided one ‘horn’ of the argument you ended up impaled on the other.See also: dilemma, horn, of, on

(on) the horns of a diˈlemma

(in) a situation in which you must make a choice between things which are equally unpleasant: I’m really on the horns of a dilemma. I need the car but I can’t afford it.See also: dilemma, horn, of

on the horns of a dilemma

Faced with two equally undesirable alternatives.See also: dilemma, horn, of, on

horns of a dilemma, on the

Faced with two equally undesirable alternatives. In Greek logic a lemma was a premise, a matter taken for granted in an argument, whereas a dilemma (a double lemma) was an either/or proposition. The Romans called this an argumentum cornutum, or “horned argument,” because one could be caught on either horn. In the sixteenth century Nicholas Udall, translator of Erasmus, turned it into a horned question: “Because that to whether of both partyes a bodye shall make a direct aunswere, he shall renne on the sharpe poyncte of a horne.” Soon thereafter it began to be called “the horns of a dilemma.”See also: horn, of, on

dilemma

di·lem·ma

dilemma

di•lem•ma

dilemma

dilemma

dilemma

dilemma

dilemma

be on the horns of a dilemma

on the horns of a dilemma

the horns of a dilemma

on the horns of a dilemma

horns of a dilemma, on the

the horns of a dilemma

on the horns of a dilemma

(on) the horns of a diˈlemma

on the horns of a dilemma

horns of a dilemma, on the

dilemma

dilemma

Dilemma

REFERENCES

Dilemma

dilemma

dilemma

di·lem·ma

dilemma

Synonyms for dilemma

noun predicament

Synonyms

phrase on the horns of a dilemma

Synonyms

Synonyms for dilemma

noun a difficult, often embarrassing situation or condition

Synonyms

Synonyms for dilemma

noun state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options

Synonyms

Related Words