Hobson's choice

/ˌhɑbsənz ˈtʃɔɪs/
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An apparent choice that offers only one real option.

Examples

  • When only one candidate remained, the election felt like a Hobson's choice.
  • Is this really a negotiation, or just a Hobson's choice?
  • The tenants called the landlord's offer a Hobson's choice.
  • The new contract offered a Hobson's choice: accept the cut or leave.
  • With every other train canceled, travelers faced a Hobson's choice.

Similar words

no real choice
only one option
illusory choice

Meanings

No genuine alternative

decisions
formal
A situation presented as a choice when the only practical options are to accept what is offered or take nothing.

Examples

  • The new contract offered a Hobson's choice: accept the cut or leave.
  • With every other train canceled, travelers faced a Hobson's choice.
  • Is this really a negotiation, or just a Hobson's choice?
  • The tenants called the landlord's offer a Hobson's choice.
  • When only one candidate remained, the election felt like a Hobson's choice.

Similar words

Etymology

Named for Thomas Hobson, a Cambridge horse renter said to have offered customers the horse nearest the stable door or no horse at all.

FAQ

What does Hobson's choice mean?

Hobson's choice means an apparent choice in which only one option is actually available.

When is Hobson's choice used?

It applies when someone must accept a fixed offer or receive nothing.

How does Hobson's choice differ from dilemma?

A dilemma has two difficult options. Hobson's choice offers only one real option.

How is Hobson's choice used in a sentence?

With every other service canceled, the passengers faced a Hobson's choice.

Is Hobson's choice formal?

It is a fairly formal idiom, often used in commentary or analysis.

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