quandary

1. a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one;

"finds himself in a most awkward predicament"

"the woeful plight of homeless people"

2. state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options

来自拉丁语quando,何时，什么时候，哪天，来自qui,谁，如何，该，来自PIE*kwo,疑问代词词干，词源同quality,quantity,who,how.引申词义没所握，困境，进退两难。-and,现在分词。

quandary

quandary: [16] Quandary may have originated as a quasi-latinism. One of its early forms was quandare, which suggests that it may have been a pseudo-Latin infinitive verb, coined on the fanciful notion that Latin quandō ‘when’ was a first person present singular form.

quandary (n.)

"state of perplexity," 1570s, of unknown origin, perhaps a quasi-Latinism based on Latin quando "when? at what time?; at the time that, inasmuch," pronominal adverb of time, related to qui "who" (see who). Originally accented on the second syllable.

1. George was in a quandary —should he go or shouldn't he?

乔治犹豫不定—他是该去呢，还是不该去？

来自《权威词典》

2. I was in a quandary about whether to go.

我当时正犹豫到底去不去.

来自《简明英汉词典》

3. I was put in a great quandary.

我陷于进退两难的窘境.

来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4. Carrie hung in a quandary, balancing between decision and helplessness.

嘉莉正左右为难.想下决心, 又觉得无助.

来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

5. As a matter of fact, she was in a most hopeless quandary.

事实上, 她正陷入进退两难的困境.

来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹