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Choosing, making choices
Our whole life is nothing but choices to make... sometimes after a long reflection, sometimes almost impulsively because circumstances demand it.
It's often difficult to opt for a solution rather than for another one, because we are aware that each choice forces us to renounce other possible ones...
While opening a door, we are closing several ones, sometimes forever, and this may be heart-rending.
It's very difficult to decide what will be better for us (and for our loved ones when they're young).
Choosing is very difficult!
To choose * something | to pick something out |
Take your pick | A choice between... |
To choose to do | to opt to do |
To make one's choice | to settle on something |
There was no choice | it was Hobson's choice |
To be spoilt for choice | to opt for something |
* To choose, I chose, chosen. => a choice.
** A Hobson's choice is a free choice in which only one thing is offered. A person may refuse to accept what is offered: the two options are "taking it or taking nothing".
In other words, one may "take it or leave it".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobson%27s_choice
We have to examine the different options as thoroughly as possible, then weigh the pros and cons and finally make the decision.
An option | An alternative to | |
To have the option of doing | To have no choice not to do To have no alternative but to do stg | |
To select/ selective | To have the option of doing | |
To be hand-picked | To be discriminating | |
To be choos(e)y/ picky | To pick and choose | |
A decision/ to make a decision | To make up one's mind | |
Decisive | It's up to you | |
A dilemma | To hesitate/ a hesitation | |
To waver between /to vacillate | To procrastinate | |
To hum and haw | I'm in two minds about it |
Pay your money, take your choice...
The right word choice
She's spoilt for choice...
MANY IDIOMS REFER TO CHOICES:
- to be spoilt for choice= to have many different choices
- by choice = intentionally
- to be Hobson's choice= to have no real choice
The phrase refers to British stable owner Thomas Hobson, who was known to act as though he only had one horse to rent to each patron, even when his stable was full.
- pay your money, take your choice= the item you've bought may not be as good as you thought= accept a risk when buying.
- beggars can't be choosers= you cannot complain about the quality of a gift.
- a spoilt child= one who is given everything.
- personal choice= free will.
- to be pro-choice= not opposed to abortion
- a multiple choice test= test with several answer options
- choice of words= way of saying things
Yes! There are often many different possibilities to answer the same problem... It won't be the case in the test where solutions will be obvious to you! Go for it!

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