Hobson's choice
复数形式
Hobson's choices
1
霍布森的选择, 霍布森的别无选择
a choice made in a situation in which no other options were available
The idiom "Hobson's choice" is derived from the name of Thomas Hobson, an English stable owner who operated in the 16th and 17th centuries. Hobson had a practice of offering customers the option of either taking the horse that was closest to the stable door or taking none at all. This limited choice was meant to ensure that his horses were used fairly and consistently. Over time, the phrase "Hobson's choice" came to represent situations where only one option is presented, essentially giving individuals no real choice or alternative.
- The company gave its employees a Hobson's choice: accept a pay cut or face immediate layoffs.
公司给了员工一个霍布森选择：接受减薪或面临立即裁员。
- The politician presented voters with a Hobson's choice, claiming that they must support their party's candidate or risk their opposing party gaining power.
这位政治家向选民提出了霍布森选择，声称他们必须支持自己政党的候选人，否则就要冒反对党掌权的风险。
- The restaurant had a limited menu, offering customers a Hobson's choice of only one dish for dinner.
这家餐厅的菜单有限，晚餐只提供一道菜的霍布森选择。
- The car dealership offered a Hobson's choice to customers, stating they could either purchase the car at the listed price or leave empty-handed.
汽车经销商向顾客提供了一个霍布森选择，表示他们要么以标价购买汽车，要么空手离开。
- The professor gave students a Hobson's choice for the final project: complete an extensive research paper or receive a failing grade.
教授给学生的期末项目是一个霍布森选择：完成一篇广泛的研究论文或得到不及格的成绩。