Greater of two evils Meaning in English
expression
GRAY-ter uhv TOO EE-vuhlz
GRAY-tuh ov too EE-vuhlz
Definition
This expression means the worse of two bad choices or situations.
Usage & Nuances
Used when forced to choose between two bad options, to describe the worse one. Often appears with 'lesser of two evils' (the less bad one, sometimes chosen). Mostly formal or semi-formal; rarely used in casual speech.
Spanish: el mayor de dos malesPortuguese (BR): o maior dos dois malesPortuguese (PT): o maior de dois malesChinese (Simplified): 两害之中较大者Chinese (Traditional): 兩害之中較大者Hindi: दो बुराइयों में बड़ाArabic: الأشد سوءًا من شرّينBengali: দুই অনিষ্টের মধ্যে বড় অনিষ্টRussian: дву́х зол ху́дшееJapanese: 二つの悪のうち大きい方Vietnamese: điều xấu hơn trong hai cái xấuKorean: 두 가지 악 중 더 큰 것Turkish: iki kötülükten büyüğüUrdu: دو بُرائیوں میں سے بڑی بُرائیIndonesian: yang lebih buruk dari dua keburukan
Example Sentences
He had to choose the greater of two evils in the election.
basic
Picking the greater of two evils is never easy.
basic
Sometimes, we must accept the greater of two evils to move forward.
basic
When both jobs were terrible, she tried to avoid the greater of two evils.
natural
He felt like he was just choosing the greater of two evils by staying.
natural
Honestly, both options stink, but this is definitely the greater of two evils.
natural