Between two stools

Posted by Smokey Stover April 21, 2005In reply to Between two stools posted by ESC on April 21, 2005

What is the meaning of "This plan falls between two stools"?

Meaning
Uncertainty and hesitation.

Origin
From the proverbial 'between two stools you fall to the ground'.

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Apparently it's a very old phrase. OED: "3. fig. a. Proverb, to fall, come to the ground, sit between two stools: to incur failure through vacillation between two different courses of action. [earliest citation:] 1390 GOWER Conf. I. 15 Bot it is seid..Betwen tuo Stoles lyth the fal, Whan that men wenen best to sitte."