lesser of two evils

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /lɛsə(ɹ)‿əv tuː‿iːvəlz/

• Audio (Australia):

  (file)

Noun

lesser of two evils (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic) The least harmful or unpleasant of two undesirable alternatives.

   Synonym: lesser evil

   Antonym: greater of two evils

Translations

Translations

• Arabic: أَهْوَنُ الشَّرَّيْنِ (ʔahwanu š-šarrayni)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 兩害相權取其輕 / 两害相权取其轻 (zh) (liǎng hài xiāng quán qǔ qí qīng) (verb: "to choose the lesser of two evils")

• Finnish: pienempi paha
• French: moindre mal m
• German: geringeres Übel
• Hungarian: kisebbik rossz
• Italian: male minore m
• Polish: mniejsze zło n
• Romanian: răul cel mai mic n
• Russian: ме́ньшее из двух зол (ru) n (ménʹšeje iz dvux zol)
• Spanish: mal menor (es) m
• Thai: please add this translation if you can
• Turkish: ehvenişer (tr) (archaic)

See also

• necessary evil
• damned if one does and damned if one doesn't