两头为难

两头为难

Literally means:

find it hard to please both parties

Actually means:

be faced with a hard choice between the two

两头, both sides; 为难, awkward or difficult to handle.

This phrase figuratively refers to an awkward situation in which one has no idea how to please two conflicting parties. It also means being faced hard decision to be made between two choices. It usually implies that one is caught in a dilemma.

两头，两边。为难，感到难以应付。

两头为难，比喻被夹在对立的双方之间，不知道如何应付双方。也指面临两种选择，但选择任何一种都很困难。多指人处在矛盾的状态中。