Entre la espada y la pared

Google images, “Between the devil and the deep blue sea” Click on the image to listen a song by George Harrison

Meaning:

We feel between the devil and the deep blue sea when we are in a very difficult position, between two great dangers. It refers to a very difficult decision to make.

Google images, “Between the devil and the deep blue sea” Click to listen to a song by Emil Bulls

Origin:

There was a heavy plank fastened to one side of a ship in the 17th century.  This plank was called the devil. It was used to support the cannons. There were times in which sailors had to go out to do some repairs to the devils. This was a very dangerous situation because the mariner could fall down any moment into the deep blue sea. If the ship got into a very tight area, the sailor could be easily smashed and die. That is why, this expression got an expanded meaning of being between two dangerous positions.

Google images, “Between the devil and the deep blue sea” Click to listen to a song by Black Stone Cherry

Example:

Google images, “Between the devil and the deep blue sea” Click to listen to a song by Peggy Lee