Dilemma

For other uses, see Dilemma (disambiguation).
Cartoon showing William Ewart Gladstone in a dilemma: If he climbs to escape the guard dog he will face the man's wrath, but if he drops to avoid the man, the dog will attack him.

A dilemma (from Ancient Greek δίλημμα (dílēmma) 'double proposition') is a problem offering two possibilities, neither of which is unambiguously acceptable or preferable. The possibilities are termed the horns of the dilemma, a clichéd usage, but distinguishing the dilemma from other kinds of predicament as a matter of usage.[1]

  1. ^ Garner, Bryan (2009). Garner’s Modern American Usage. Oxford University Press. p. 257. ISBN 9780199888771.