From the novel and film of the same name, an impossibly difficult choice, especially when forced onto someone. The choice is between two unbearable options, and it's essentially a no-win situation.
"Sophie's Choice" is centered on a scene in Auschwitz where Sophie has just arrived with her ten-year old son and her seven-year old daughter and a sadistic doctor, presumably Doctor Mengele, tells her that she can only bring one of her children; one will be allowed to live while the other is to be killed.
As a mother, Sophie adores both of her children and can't make this agonizing choice... until several soldiers force her and she hastily gives her daughter to them, sobbing as they take her little girl away.
As a mother, Sophie adores both of her children and can't make this agonizing choice... until several soldiers force her and she hastily gives her daughter to them, sobbing as they take her little girl away.
by Lorelili October 15, 2009
The loan hiker's arm was wedged in a crevice when he slipped and fell. He didn't have the strength to release himself. Each movement wedged his arm more deeply into the crevice. After several days without food and water, he was left with a Sophie's Choice: continue to wait for help and possibly die, or use the serrated blade of his pocket knife to cut off his own arm and climb to safety before bleeding to death.
by Pecos Pete March 28, 2008
It is NOT a difficult choice. It's a choice between two options that will results in the destruction of the option not chosen. A difficult choice is just called a difficult choice, IT HAS NO NAME because it doesn't deserve one for the dramatic effect.
A difficult choice is do you pick lover A or lover B and leave the other one possibly mad at you. A Sophie's choice is do you pick A or B and leave the other one DEAD, completely lifeless, future distinguished, no more fun experiences, and generally a bad existence (or lack thereof).
by one correcting your slug-brain October 15, 2011
by Dana Mix August 18, 2003
And the Sophie's Choice Award goes to......... A punch to the face! It looked for a minute like he was going to go with the baseball bat to the scrotal area.
by buster3535 July 25, 2014