entre le marteau et l'enclume

• IPA^(key): /ɑ̃.tʁə l(ə) maʁ.to e l‿ɑ̃.klym/

entre le marteau et l'enclume

1. (literally) between the hammer and the anvil
2. (by extension, idiomatic) between a rock and a hard place; between the devil and the deep blue sea

In the idiomatic sense loosely identical to “be in a bad situation”; not as strong as between a rock and a hard place and it doesn't catch the idea of being forced to take into account antagonist interests (the “hammer” and the “anvil”). When a decision is hard to make between one or the opposite one, neither of them being ideal.

• entre l'arbre et l'écorce