fall between two stools
Meaning
Verb
- To fit into neither of two categories and, hence, be neglected or fail.
- To attempt two roles and fail at both, when either could have been accomplished singly.
Related
Similar words
- fall in a grey area
Origin
- From an old proverb, "Between two stools, one falls to the ground", which dates from 1390. This, in turn, is most likely a translation of the medieval Latin proverb labitur enitens sellis herere duabus ("he falls trying to sit on two seats").
Modern English dictionary
Explore and search massive catalog of over 900,000 word meanings.
Word of the Day
Get a curated memorable word every day.
Challenge yourself
Level up your vocabulary by setting personal goals.
And much more
Try out Vedaist now.