Good-option dilemma

The good-option dilemma is that typical scenario where—for example—some evil authority figure holding you hostage gives you two options: one where you suffer the most and the other where you don't suffer as long as you give them what they want. Obviously you pick the second option out of desperation, but the dilemma here is that no matter what option you choose, in the end the evil figure will still make you suffer (typically by being killed or watching your loved ones die).

I had a good-option dilemma today where my computer's SSD got corrupted and I either had two options: wipe everything and do a clean reinstall of Windows, or pay a few hundred bucks to have some specialist recover the contents. So I paid for the recovery but the people shipped back the wrong drive with somebody else's files! So in the end, I had to wipe my drive no matter which option I went for. This is the good-option dilemma in a nutshell.

by Mary Mary Quite The Contrarian December 26, 2021

Marine dilemma

Luck and bad luck at the same time; unusual event that requires unusual response; event that has an aura of uniqueness

So you’ve met this amazing girl, but she’s from different country? Man, that’s some proper marine dilemma - you’re gonna have to come with a solution, you’ve never used before.

by Mr.Nobody2 January 01, 2020

Ozment Dilemma

Situation in which a person of higher authority (I.e. teacher, manager, boss) decides to sacrifice said authority for the sake of being liked or relatable. Often a pushover that would rather be liked than respected.

Mark is quite the pushover. He really suffers from the Ozment dilemma.

by SpongeBob Squaredude April 28, 2021

battleship dilemma

The problem of seeing what the other player is doing while playing a video game.

"You're going to run on this play, so I'm going to blitz."
"Crikey what a battleship dilemma!"

by BlueTempest1986 January 16, 2017

on the horns of a dilemma

facing a choice between two equally undesirable alternatives

The lion was on the horns of a dilemma, deciding what he should do in such a risky situation.

by British Virgin Islands at the February 04, 2023

Ass dilemma

When you're in the middle of two asses and don't know which one to choose first.

DRAMON: AYE YO NIGGA I WUZ KICKIN IT WIT DEEZ TWO THICK ASS WHITE BITCHES BUT THEN THEY PUT ME IN AN ASS DILEMMA AND I WAZ THEIR TRYNA FIGURE OUT WHAT ASS I WANNA FUCK FIRST, SHIT WAS SO HORD IT WUZ LIEK AN SAT UP IN DIS MUHFUCKA!

Tom: Whoa man that's sick, I 'm very intrigued!

by Cartah Hoffah December 16, 2015

Fisherman's Dilemma

Angst experienced by most serial kidnappers, rapists and lorry drivers after spending some considerable time with their female abductee.

Sarah had spent the best part of six months chained to the radiator in the cellar. Bubba Lou was plagued by the fisherman's dilemma. 'Do I kill it, or do I let it go?'

by manoftrent November 28, 2017