“左右为难”，字面意思是“左也不好，右也不是”，形容无论怎样做都有难处，不知如何是好（be in a dilemma），与英文习语“caught in the middle”或“ caught in the crossfire”意思相近，表示“In a position between two or more sides in an argument or contentious¹ issue, often leaving one without a clear course of action to satisfy either side.”

 

例句：

 

当父母关系不好时，孩子常常左右为难。

When parents don't get along, the children are often caught in the cross-fire.

 

当我的朋友们分手时，我总是左右为难，因为他们会向我吐槽对方。

When my friends broke up, I was often caught in the middle, as each one complained to me about the other.

点击收听单词发音