on the horns of a dilemma

From horn (“alternative in an argument”), from Latin argūmentum cornūtum (“argument with alternatives”, literally “horned argument”), a reference to an alternative that one can metaphorically get caught on or injured by.

• "To admit of the abſolute foreknovvledge of God, and yet to deny his predeſtination, even in its fulleſt extent, is a palpable abſurdity. The diſputant ſticks faſt on the horns of a dilemma, from vvhich he never can be diſengaged, vvithout the extraction of one. And yet to deny either, involves an equal abſurdity, and leaves the poor logician in the ſame predicament; […]"
• "They vvere ſtuck on the horns of a dilemma, that ſorely pricked them; unable to find a better ſituation, and unreſolved to quit their preſent one."
• "We are on the horns of a dilemma. If things go on in this manner and the rebellion is not suppressed, in a short time government won't have any copper and there is no knowing what may happen. If we get news of victory over the rebels, our doom is sealed, for it's my belief that every one of us will be put into the crucible and reduced to so much waste copper."
• "He was busy organising opposition to Lord Ranfurly [Uchter Knox, 5th Earl of Ranfurly], when, in an unlucky moment for his cause, he was called up to sign the deed of cession as the representative of Avatele. Thus was he impaled on the horns of a dilemma. If he refused, another would have gone down to posterity as a greater than he in his own village; if he accepted, he stultified his own words."
• "Ignatius [of Loyola] was on the horns of a dilemma. Should Francis [Borgia] remain in Spain, his fate was fixed. Should he escape to Rome, the Pope [Pope Julius III] would certainly make him a Cardinal."

• between a rock and a hard place
• between Scylla and Charybdis
• damned if one does and damned if one doesn't
• between a rock and a hard place
• between Scylla and Charybdis
• between the devil and the deep blue sea
• between the hammer and the anvil
• between two fires
• damned if one does and damned if one doesn't
• doomed if you do
• doomed if you don't
• in a cleft stick
• in bad bread
• on the horns of a dilemma