damned

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Prov. No matter what you do, it will cause trouble. If I use this money to pay the rent, I won't have enough left over for food. But if I don't use the money to pay the rent, my landlord will evict me. Damned if I do, damned if I don't. Helen: If I invite Shirley to the party, I'm sure she'll get drunk and make an unpleasant scene. But if I don't invite her, she'll never forgive me. Jane: Damned if you do, damned if you don't, huh?

See also: if

I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't.

Fig. There are problems if I do something and problems if I don't do it. I can't win. I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. No matter whether I go or stay, I am in trouble. I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't.

See also: and, if

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be damned if you do and damned if you don't

if you say that someone is damned if they do and damned if they don't, you mean they will be criticized whatever they do When it comes to removing children from parents suspected of abuse, social workers are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

See also: and, if

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something be damned

this thing is not important They tend to select the best software packages available, and costs be damned. If you repeat a lie often enough, people will think it must be true, facts be damned.

Usage notes: usually used with plural nouns, as in the examples

damned if you do and damned if you don't (slang)

criticized whatever you decide It doesn't matter if the president's wife uses the power of her position or not - she's damned if she does and damned if she doesn't.

See also: and, if

I'll be damned (slang)

I am surprised “Well, I'll be damned,” he said when he saw that a thousand people had come to hear him speak.

I'll be damned if I do something (slang)

I will not let something happen I’ll be damned if I let her tell me that I don't belong here.

See also: if