situation (redirected from situations)

no-win situation

a situation where there is no correct or satisfactory solution. The general was too weak to fight and too proud to surrender. It was a no-win situation. The huge dog my father gave us as a gift eats too much. If we get rid of the dog, my father will be insulted. If we keep it, we will go broke buying food for it. This is a classic no-win situation.

reality of the situation

the truth or actuality of the situation; the way the situation really is. The reality of the situation is that we must act right now. Let's face the reality of the situation and go out and get jobs so we can pay our bills.

See also: reality

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a chicken and egg situation

a situation in which it is impossible to say which of two things existed first and which caused the other It's a chicken and egg situation - I don't know whether I was bad at the sciences because I wasn't interested in them or not interested in them and therefore not good at them.

See also: and, chicken, egg

a no-win situation

a difficult situation in which whatever happens the result will be bad for the people involved I'm in a no-win situation here. Whatever I do, I'm going to annoy someone. (American)

See a no-win situation

Catch 22  also a Catch 22 situation

a situation where one thing must happen in order to cause another thing to happen, but because the first thing does not happen the second thing cannot happen

Usage notes: Catch 22 is the title of a book by Joseph Heller about the experiences of an American pilot.

If you don't have a place to stay, you can't get a job and with no job, you can't get an apartment. It's a Catch 22 situation.

See also: catch

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a no-win situation

a condition in which all possible results are bad for the people involved If she doesn't do anything, the North Side will be unhappy, and if she does do something, the South Side will be unhappy. Either way she's in a no-win situation.

make the best of a bad situation

to do as well as possible under conditions that are not satisfactory The only way to survive being jailed is to make the best of a bad situation.

See also: bad, best, make