The phrase "between a rock and a hard place" is believed to have originated from American mining vocabulary in the early 20th century. It refers to being in a difficult situation with limited options or facing two equally challenging choices.
The origin of the saying is taken from the ancient Greek mythology of "The Odyssey". In his efforts to return home, Odysseys must pass between Scylla and Charybdis. Scylla was a horrible man-eating monster that struck from above on the cliffs (the "rock") while Charydbis was a treacherous whirlpool (the "hard place"). Hence "to be between a rock and a hard place" is to have a dilemma.
I believe you are thinking of "between a rock and a hard place."
'between a rock and a hard place' This means you have two difficult options to choose from. Trying to help my friend with our term assignment puts me between a rock and a hard place because I don't want to tell him all my ideas but I want to help him.
The distance between a rock and a hard place.
Flip This House - 2005 Between a Rock and a Hard Place - 1.12 was released on: USA: 16 January 2006
I am between a rock and a hard place. The cat is between two dogs.
I suddenly found myself caught between a rock and a hard place. This means that I am faced with two unpleasant alternatives. By the way this is a hackneyed phrase - I would not use it .
The book "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" was written by Aron Ralston. He recounts his harrowing experience of being trapped in a remote canyon in Utah and having to amputate his own arm to free himself.
Flip This House - 2005 Between a Rock and a Hard Place 1-12 was released on: USA: 16 January 2006
Snooki and JWOWW - 2012 Between a Rock and a Hard Place 2-8 is rated/received certificates of: Netherlands:6
Rude Awakening - 1998 Between a Rock Star and a Hard Place - 2.6 was released on: USA: 31 July 1999
James Bond Jr- - 1991 Between a Rock and a Hard Place 1-52 was released on: USA: 1991
It is based on the book Between a Rock and a Hard Place, by Aron Ralston.