- be caught in a cleft stick
- ► be (or be caught) in a cleft stick chiefly Brit. be in a situation in which any action one takes will have adverse consequences.Main Entry: ↑cleft
English terms dictionary. 2015.
be caught in a cleft stick
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(be) (caught) in a cleft stick — be (caught) in a cleft ˈstick idiom to be in a difficult situation when any action you take will have bad results Main entry: ↑cleftidiom … Useful english dictionary
be (or be caught) in a cleft stick — be in a situation in which any action one takes will have adverse consequences. → cleft … English new terms dictionary
in a cleft stick — British & Australian, old fashioned if someone is in a cleft stick, they have a problem which is very difficult to solve. I m in a real cleft stick because I can t sell my house. Because of new employment laws, these companies are caught in a… … New idioms dictionary
be in a cleft stick — ► be (or be caught) in a cleft stick chiefly Brit. be in a situation in which any action one takes will have adverse consequences. Main Entry: ↑cleft … English terms dictionary
in a cleft stick — If you are in a cleft stick, you are in a difficult situation, caught between choices … The small dictionary of idiomes
cleft — past participle of CLEAVE(Cf. ↑cleave). ► ADJECTIVE ▪ split, divided, or partially divided into two. ► NOUN 1) a fissure or split in rock or the ground. 2) an indentation in a person s forehead or chin, or a hollow between two parts of the body.… … English terms dictionary
in a cleft stick — If you are in a cleft stick, you are in a difficult situation, caught between choices. (Dorking School Dictionary) … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
In a cleft stick — If you are in a cleft stick, you are in a difficult situation, caught between choices … Dictionary of English idioms
cleft — cleft1 [kleft] n [: Old English; Origin: geclyft] 1.) a natural crack in something, especially the surface of rocks or the Earth etc 2.) an area on the chin or lip that goes slightly inwards cleft 2 cleft2 adj [Date: 1300 1400; Origin: CLEFT3] … Dictionary of contemporary English
cleft — cleft1 past participle of cleave1. adjective split, divided, or partially divided into two. Phrases be (or be caught) in a cleft stick be in a situation in which any action one takes will have adverse consequences. cleft2 noun 1》 a fissure or… … English new terms dictionary
