Between Devil and Deep Sea

AN ARTICLE ON THE IDIOMATIC PHRASE
“BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP SEA”

A common idiomatic expression in use in many English speaking countries is the reference to being caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. Among the most popular of English sayings, the origin of this particular idiom is routinely debated, with some tracing the saying back to the days of Roman and Greek mythology. Whatever the origin, the expression has come to refer to being caught in a dilemma involving only two options, with neither option offering any clear benefits.

There is some evidence that the phrase once involved simply being caught "between the devil and the deep sea." References to a "deep blue sea" emerged during the 20th century with the popularization of a song that added the blue reference to the familiar idiom. Over the years, this new and improved expression has caught on in popular use even among those who have never heard the song.

The phrase may have been a nautical reference to the deep sea and a "devil", a seam (where two hull planks meet) that is difficult to reach on a ship. It may have been a reference to being a member of the lower deck or crew of a sailing ship in the English Navy. Such sailors were often pressed into service unwillingly. One who was "between the devil and the deep blue sea" would literally be beneath the upper deck (officer territory) and thus a member of the crew.
Another possible origin involves the fact that "devil" was a name for the longest seam of a wooden ship, which ran from the bow to the stern. When at sea and the devil had to be caulked, the sailor sat in a bosun 's chair to do so. He was suspended between the devil and the sea, a very precarious position, especially when the ship was underway. If sailors fell from a footrope under a yardarm, they would either land on the deck (within the devil plank) or in the water (outside of the devil plank). Either option is likely fatal.
However, this nautical origin is

References: to a "deep blue sea" emerged during the 20th century with the popularization of a song that added the blue reference to the familiar idiom. Over the years, this new and improved expression has caught on in popular use even among those who have never heard the song. The phrase may have been a nautical reference to the deep sea and a "devil", a seam (where two hull planks meet) that is difficult to reach on a ship. It may have been a reference to being a member of the lower deck or crew of a sailing ship in the English Navy. Such sailors were often pressed into service unwillingly. One who was "between the devil and the deep blue sea" would literally be beneath the upper deck (officer territory) and thus a member of the crew. Another possible origin involves the fact that "devil" was a name for the longest seam of a wooden ship, which ran from the bow to the stern. When at sea and the devil had to be caulked, the sailor sat in a bosun 's chair to do so. He was suspended between the devil and the sea, a very precarious position, especially when the ship was underway. If sailors fell from a footrope under a yardarm, they would either land on the deck (within the devil plank) or in the water (outside of the devil plank). Either option is likely fatal. However, this nautical origin is unlikely. This is because the first recorded citation of "the Devil and the deep sea" in print is in Robert Monro 's His expedition with the worthy Scots regiment called Mac-keyes, 1637: "I, with my partie, did lie on our poste, as betwixt the devil and the deep sea." Because the nautical use of the word "devil" as mentioned above cannot be confirmed until more than two centuries later, the nautical origin seems improbable. Notwithstanding that the origin of the phrase, in light of the above, is debatable, at its core, being caught between the devil and the deep blue sea is a situation that offers no easy solutions and certainly no options that the hapless individual finds appealing. While evaluating possible actions to deal with a given situation, it quickly becomes apparent that none of the actions offer a way out of the difficult position without incurring some type of collateral damage. For example, if someone accidentally plans two engagements for the same night, cancels one on the excuse of illness, and then later runs into that rejected one while attending the other, that man or woman has no course of action that will prevent embarrassment and avoid feelings of distress for at least two and possibly three of the parties involved. Last but not the least, being caught between the devil and the deep blue sea does not mean that one or more options cannot be employed to bring resolution to a situation. What it does imply is that none of the available solutions will allow a resolution without some amount of frustration and damage. As a result, someone will incur a loss of some type no matter what type of action is taken. This leaves the decision maker with the task of finally identifying which course of action will result in the least amount of damage, in hopes of being able to repair that damage and move on with as little difficulty as possible.