Hobson's choice
A situation where a person is presented with the illusion of a free choice, but in…A situation where a person is presented with the illusion of a free choice, but in reality there is only one option available: accepting the offer or having nothing at all.
» It's Hobson's choice.
Бери что дают.
Meaning
3 senses(idiomatic)A situation where a person is presented with the illusion of a free choice, but in reality there is only one option available: accepting the offer or having nothing at all.
friss oder stirb
выбор Хобсонаvybor Xobsona
(broadly, idiomatic)A choice between several undesirable options; Sophie's choice.
(Cockney, slang)The voice.
Examples
1 sentencesIt's Hobson's choice.
ruБери что дают. — marafon
Translations
6 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From Hobson + -’s + choice, widely claimed to have been named after Thomas Hobson (c. 1544From Hobson + -’s + choice, widely claimed to have been named after Thomas Hobson (c. 1544–1631) of Cambridge, England, who rented horses and had an extensive stable, but is said to have required each customer to take the horse in the stall closest to the door, to prevent the best horses from always being chosen and becoming overused.
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Forms
plural: Hobson's choices| Singular | Hobson's choice |
|---|---|
| Plural | Hobson's choices |
regular