pattern

Beslissing en Controle - Besluiteloosheid

Verken Engelse uitdrukkingen die verband houden met besluiteloosheid, waaronder "tussen twee stoelen vallen" en "twee gedachten hebben".

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English idioms related to Decision & Control
up in the air
up in the air
[Zinsdeel]

completely uncertain or left unresolved

nog onzeker, in de lucht hangen

nog onzeker, in de lucht hangen

Ex: Our holiday plans are still up in the air. 
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at loose ends
at loose ends
[Zinsdeel]

having no idea what one should do, particularly due to an unexpected or upsetting change

de kluts kwijt, verloren

de kluts kwijt, verloren

Ex: After the company closed, he was at loose ends for weeks. 
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betwixt and between

used when one is uncertain, particularly due to being stuck between two alternatives

tussen twee vuren, in dubio

tussen twee vuren, in dubio

Ex: She felt betwixt and between, unable to choose between staying and leaving. 
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down to the wire

used to refer to a situation in which the outcome is unclear until the last moment

tot het laatste moment spannend, tot de laatste seconde onzeker

tot het laatste moment spannend, tot de laatste seconde onzeker

Ex: The election went down to the wire, with the winner announced after midnight. 
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shades of gray
shades of gray
[Zinsdeel]

a situation in which it is hard to determine what is right or wrong or what one must do

moreel grijs gebied, niet duidelijk goed of fout

moreel grijs gebied, niet duidelijk goed of fout

Ex: This is one of those shades of gray where doing the legal thing may still feel wrong. 
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at sixes and sevens

used to refer to someone who is completely confused

helemaal in de war, totaal van slag

helemaal in de war, totaal van slag

Ex: After the sudden change in plans, everyone was at sixes and sevens. 
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cold feet
cold feet
[zelfstandig naamwoord]

the state in which one loses all one's confidence and willingness to continue doing something

koudwatervrees, plotselinge koudwatervrees

koudwatervrees, plotselinge koudwatervrees

Ex: He got cold feet just before signing the contract. 
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loose [thread]
loose thread
[Zinsdeel]

the parts of something that are yet to be finished or resolved

los eindje, open eindje

los eindje, open eindje

Ex: Before we close the project, we need to deal with a few loose threads. 
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to [fall] between two stools

to be in an unsatisfactory situation where one is unable to choose between two courses of action

tussen twee keuzes misgrijpen, nergens uitkomen

tussen twee keuzes misgrijpen, nergens uitkomen

Ex: By trying to satisfy both sides, he fell between two stools and pleased no one. 
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to {not} [know] whether to laugh or cry

to not now how to react to a situation as one is extremely frustrated or confused

niet weten of je moet lachen of huilen, verward en gefrustreerd

niet weten of je moet lachen of huilen, verward en gefrustreerd

Ex: After hearing the news, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. 
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between a rock and a hard place

in a situation where one has difficulty choosing between two alternatives because both are equally undesirable

tussen twee kwaden, in een lastig parket

tussen twee kwaden, in een lastig parket

Ex: She was between a rock and a hard place: keep the job she hated or risk unemployment. 
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to [chop] and [change]

to keep changing one's behavior or opinions in an abrupt manner

steeds van mening veranderen, alle kanten op schieten

steeds van mening veranderen, alle kanten op schieten

Ex: The manager keeps chopping and changing, so nobody knows what the plan is. 
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between the devil and the deep blue sea

in a situation where both choices lead to an undesirable outcome

tussen twee kwaden, geen goede keuze

tussen twee kwaden, geen goede keuze

Ex: She was between the devil and the deep blue sea: tell the truth and lose her job, or stay quiet and protect a lie. 
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on the horns of a dilemma

‌in a situation that forces one to choose between two alternatives that both have equally undesirable outcomes

voor een lastig dilemma staan, tussen twee kwaden

voor een lastig dilemma staan, tussen twee kwaden

Ex: The judge was on the horns of a dilemma: release a dangerous suspect or violate the law. 
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to [hem] and [haw]
to hem and haw
[Zinsdeel]

to hesitate in making a decision or saying something

aarzelen en draaien, eromheen draaien

aarzelen en draaien, eromheen draaien

Ex: Stop hemming and hawing and tell me what you really think. 
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the jury [is] (still|) out

‌used to express that no decision is made or no opinion is formed about something due to uncertainty

het is nog niet duidelijk, nog geen oordeel

het is nog niet duidelijk, nog geen oordeel

Ex: The jury is still out on whether the new policy will actually work. 
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at (the|a) crossroads

in a situation that one has to make an important and life-changing decision

op een beslissend kruispunt, voor een beslissende keuze

op een beslissend kruispunt, voor een beslissende keuze

Ex: After graduation, she found herself at the crossroads: take the safe job or move abroad. 
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of two minds
of two minds
[Zinsdeel]

in a state of uncertainty in which it becomes difficult for one to make a decision between two available options

in dubio, twijfelend

in dubio, twijfelend

Ex: I'm of two minds about taking the job; the salary is good, but the hours are terrible. 
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