a hard place
A situation so bad it feels like the universe is trying to break you. You don't want to be there. You don't want to stay.
I had to choose between getting grounded or eating my math test. That was a hard place.
I was stuck between staying up all night or getting yelled at. A hard place.
I had to pick between eating a whole cake or getting yelled at by my sister. That was a hard place.