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Decision & Control - Indecisiveness

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

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English idioms related to Decision & Control
up in the air

completely uncertain or left unresolved

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 hesitate in making a decision or saying something

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

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

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
[phrase]

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

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