Decision & Control - Indecisiveness

Explore English idioms that relate to indecisiveness, including "fall between two stools" and "of two minds".

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up in the air [phrase]

completely uncertain or left unresolved

Ex: The outcome of the election is up in the air ; it 's too close to call at this point .

at loose ends [phrase]

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

Ex: The sudden cancellation of their vacation plans left them at loose ends , scrambling to find alternative activities .

betwixt and between [phrase]

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

Ex: The company was in a state of limbo , betwixt and between restructuring and expansion plans .

down to the wire [phrase]

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

Ex: With only seconds remaining , the basketball player made a crucial shot down to the wire , securing the victory for his team .

shades of gray [phrase]

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

Ex: The story delves into the moral ambiguity of its characters , showcasing shades of gray rather than black-and-white morality .

at sixes and sevens [phrase]

used to refer to someone who is completely confused

Ex: With conflicting instructions and no clear guidance , the project was in disarray , leaving everyone at sixes and sevens .

cold feet [noun]

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

Ex: The investor got cold feet about the risky business venture and withdrew their financial support .

loose [thread] [phrase]

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

Ex: The unresolved conflict within the family became a loose thread that threatened to unravel the harmony they had worked so hard to maintain .

to [fall] between two stools [phrase]

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

Ex: His attempt to please both his strict parents and his rebellious friends caused him to fall between two stools , struggling to find his own identity .

to {not} [know] whether to laugh or cry [phrase]

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

Ex: When the comedian 's joke hit a little too close to home , the audience found themselves in a moment of not knowing whether to laugh or cry .

between a rock and a hard place [phrase]

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

Ex: The small business owner was stuck between a rock and a hard place , facing the dilemma of raising prices and risking losing customers or absorbing rising costs and hurting their profit margin .

to [chop] and [change] [phrase]

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

Ex: The team 's inconsistent performance last season was a result of chopping and changing their lineup too frequently .

between the devil and the deep blue sea [phrase]

in a situation where both choices lead to an undesirable outcome

Ex: The conservationist was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea , faced with the decision of supporting development that would harm the environment or opposing it and endangering local jobs .

on the horns of a dilemma [phrase]

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

Ex: The politician found himself on the horns of a dilemma , caught between supporting a popular policy that went against their beliefs or opposing it and alienating their constituents .

to [hem] and [haw] [phrase]

to hesitate in making a decision or saying something

Ex:

the jury [is] (still|) out [sentence]

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

Ex:

at the crossroads [phrase]

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

Ex: As the deadline approached , he realized he was at the crossroads and had to decide whether to follow his passion or take a more secure but less fulfilling job .

of two minds [phrase]

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

Ex: The committee members were of two minds regarding the proposed policy change , with some supporting it while others raised concerns .

Decision & Control
Under Control	Out of Control	Losing Control	Being in Charge
Force & Obligation	Obedience	Choices & Decisions	Decisiveness
Indecisiveness	Dependency