lady or tiger
A pure gamble with highly divergent outcomes.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Choosing that job is a lady or tiger situation.”
“Investing all your savings in a new startup is a real lady or tiger gamble.”
“The politician faced a lady or tiger dilemma, knowing that his final decision would lead either to a triumphant victory or a total career collapse.”
From the short story The Lady, or the Tiger by Frank R. Stockton, in which a condemned man is offered two doors, one of which leads to a beautiful woman and the other to a ferocious tiger.
- 01
have a tiger by the tail
To be in a difficult or dangerous situation in which one ideally should not remain, but from which one cannot withdraw.
- 02
have the tiger by the tail
To be in a difficult or dangerous situation in which one ideally should not remain, but from which one cannot withdraw.
- 03
ladies' man
Alternative form of lady's man.
- 04
lady garden
A woman's pubic hair, and the area around it.
- 05
lady's man
A man who attracts women and enjoys their company.
- 06
paper tiger
Something or someone that appears powerful, strong or threatening but is in reality weak, ineffective, or unable to withstand challenge.
- 07
ride the tiger
To maintain control over something aggressive and dangerous.
- 08
tiger of a different stripe
Something entirely different; a whole other thing or matter.
Last updated August 10, 2026