either-or
/ˌaɪ.ðərˈɔːr/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌiː.ðɚˈɔːr/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌē-t͟hər-ˈȯr also ˌī-/ (ame, mw)
either-or — adjective
1. describing a situation that forces you to pick one of two possible actions inste
describing a situation that forces you to pick one of two possible actions instead of combining them.
The coach gave us an either-or choice: train hard or sit out Saturday.
either-or + choice for a forced two-way decision
Minho hated the either-or rules at work and wanted more options.
The debate became either-or after the host banned any mixed answers.
Elena said parenting rarely fits an either-or answer in real life.
- binary
more technical and often used in logic, computing, or policy discussion
- exclusive
stresses that choosing one option rules out the other
- all-or-nothing
stronger and often suggests a total win-or-fail attitude
文法句型
either-or + choice
either-or + situation
be either-or
用法筆記
Often describes choices, rules, or debates that allow only one side. It contrasts with situations where people can mix options or accept both ideas together.
常見錯誤
either-or — noun
1. a situation where someone must choose one option and give up the other, with no
a situation where someone must choose one option and give up the other, with no middle way left.
For Lien, staying near home or moving abroad felt like an either-or.
an either-or for a hard two-way choice
The article presents climate policy as an either-or between jobs and forests.
Brooke rejected the false either-or of safety versus personal freedom.
Ilan warned that the budget debate should not become an either-or.
- dilemma
a difficult choice, though it does not always limit the issue to only two sides
- binary choice
a neutral and more technical way to name a two-option decision
- ultimatum
adds pressure because one option comes with a threatened consequence
- compromise
finds a middle position instead of choosing one side only
- middle ground
keeps room between two extremes
文法句型
an either-or
turn into an either-or
see as an either-or
用法筆記
Often refers to the way a problem is framed, especially when a speaker thinks more than two answers are possible. In other contexts, it can describe a real hard choice with only two paths.