Meaning of one's damned if one does and one's damned if one doesn't | Babel Free

Definitions

Phrase. [C2]

Examples

““[…] He’s been there for her, and where has Jack been? He’s gone, long gone.” / “That’s true,” Richard said in a crushing manner, “but he wouldn’t be, had it not been for Glenda getting him involved. He’s only doing what she asked him to do. You’re putting him in a no-win situation; he’s damned if he does and he’s damned if he doesn’t.””

“My job takes a lot of my time and the hours are crazy, but I put Ryan and Whitney first. Dammit, if I didn’t work that would be a problem. It seems like I’m damned if I do and I’m damned if I don’t.”

“One of the most awkward situations known to humankind (apart from turning up to work in the same outfit as someone else) is receiving a social media contact request from a member of the senior management team. Should you ignore the invitation or accept it on diplomatic grounds? In either case, you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t.”

CEFR level