kɔːt bɪˈtwiːn tuː stuːlz
General
neutral
advanced
- Literally:
- Falling between two chairs while trying to sit on both
What does "caught between two stools" mean?
- Unable to choose between two alternatives and failing at both
- Trying to please two parties and satisfying neither
Examples
- The film was caught between two stools—not funny enough for comedy, not serious enough for drama.
- She was caught between two stools, trying to please both her boss and the client.
- The policy fell between two stools, satisfying no one.
Origin
Medieval proverb about someone trying to sit on two stools at once, falling between them. The image represents someone who fails by not committing to one choice.
How to use it
More common in British than American English. Often describes products, policies, or strategies that fail by trying to appeal to multiple audiences.
Similar expressions
fall between two stools
stuck in the middle
satisfy neither
Opposites
committed to one path
decisive
Related idioms
- actions speak louder than words
What people do is more important than what they say
- better safe than sorry
It's better to be careful and prevent problems than to take risks
- so far so good
Things have gone well up to now
- easier said than done
Something is more difficult to do than to talk about
- make a long story short
To summarize or get to the point
- to make matters worse
In addition to existing problems
Use it in a practice answer
Try "caught between two stools" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.