Phrase · 🧩 Everyday idioms
Estoy entre la espada y la pared y no sé qué decidir.
I'm caught between a rock and a hard place and I don't know what to do.
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Why every word is where it is
Estoy1verbI amestar · present · 1st sing.entre1prepositionbetweenla1determinertheel · fem. · sing. · definiteespada1nounswordfem. · sing.yconjunctionandladeterminertheel · fem. · sing. · definitepared1nounwallfem. · sing.yconjunctionandnoadverbnotséverbI knowsaber · present · 1st sing.qué2pronounwhatdecidir2verbto decideinfinitive.
- sé → decidir: obj
- decidir → qué: obj
Word for word: “I'm between the sword and the wall and I don't know what to decide.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1estar entre la espada y la pared = to face two bad options.
- 2qué + infinitive in an indirect question: no sé qué decidir. Reported speech I and indirect questions →
Variations
- Estoy entre la espada y la pared y no sé qué hacer.