damned if (one) does and damned if (one) doesn't
Said when one is faced with two undesirable options. I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't—if I confess that I broke the vase, then my parents will be mad, and if I don't, then I'll feel guilty about it. A: "Katie found out that I also asked Colleen to prom. Should I come clean with her?" B: "Man, you are damned if you do and damned if you don't!" So your boss will be mad if you miss the work event, and your husband will be disappointed if you skip your anniversary dinner. Yep, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't!
damned if I do and damned if I don't
Every possible action (or inaction) would result in a negative outcome or cause me trouble; there is no course of action that does not have a drawback. My boss will be mad if I miss the work event, and my husband will be disappointed if I skip my anniversary dinner. Yep, I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't! If I stay in the company, I'll have to take a pay cut, but if I take the severance package, I don't know how I'll find another job in my field. I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't—if I confess that I broke the vase, then my parents will be mad, and if I don't, then I'll feel guilty about it.
damned if you do and damned if you don't
Every possible action (or inaction) would result in a negative outcome or cause you trouble; there is no course of action that does not have a drawback. So your boss will be mad if you miss the work event, and your husband will be disappointed if you skip your anniversary dinner. Yep, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't! You're damned if you do and damned if you don't—if you confess that you broke the vase, then your parents will be mad, and if you don't, then you'll feel guilty about it. A: "Katie found out that I also asked Colleen to prom. Should I come clean with her?" B: "Man, you are damned if you do and damned if you don't!"
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