"fall between two stools" in Chinese (Simplified)
两头不靠左右为难
Definition
当你两头不靠时，就是试图同时做两件事或在两种选择中犹豫，结果两边都没做好。
Usage Notes (Chinese (Simplified))
该表达偏正式，常用于描述因犹豫或两边兼顾而两头落空。常见于议论文、生活选择等，不适用于口语日常小事。不同于“犹豫不决”，它更强调结果的失败。
Examples
If you try to please everyone, you might fall between two stools.
如果你想取悦所有人，你可能会**两头不靠**。
The design tried to be modern and traditional but fell between two stools.
这个设计想要现代又传统，但最后**两头不靠**。
He fell between two stools by applying for both jobs and got neither.
他申请了两个工作，结果**两头不靠**，都没得到。
Our project tried to appeal to everyone but just fell between two stools.
我们的项目想讨好所有人，结果就是**两头不靠**。
She wanted both a city life and the peace of the countryside, but ended up falling between two stools.
她想要城市生活和乡村的宁静，结果却**两头不靠**。
They tried to write a serious yet funny movie and just fell between two stools.
他们想写一个既严肃又有趣的电影，结果**两头不靠**。