fall between two stools

fall between two stools

Fig. to come somewhere between two possibilities and so fail to meet the requirements of either. The material is not suitable for an academic book or for a popular one. It falls between two stools. He tries to be both teacher and friend, but falls between two stools.

See also: fall, stool, two

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fall between two stools  (mainly British) also be caught between two stools (mainly British)

if something falls between two stools, it fails because it is neither one type of thing nor another and if someone falls between two stools, they fail because they try to combine two different types of thing that cannot be combined For me, it fell between two stools, being neither romantic fiction nor serious literature. If you try to organize an event that will appeal to both young and old, you can end up caught between two stools.

See also: fall, stool, two