med_cat: (Default)
Nechama Chaya ([personal profile] med_cat) wrote in [community profile] 1word1day2016-03-26 07:06 am

Friday word: Zugzwang

Apologies for being late. I bring you a z-word:
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Zugzwang: in chess, a situation where one must make a move, but no matter what move one makes, it will weaken one's position.

I've seen it used figuratively in the last year or so, in reference to political decisions...

You can read more details on the original meaning in this article from Wikipedia

[identity profile] theidolhands.livejournal.com 2016-03-26 11:57 am (UTC)(link)
UGH, I like that word. Good on you for finding that. What a great way to sum up the phrase, "Damned if you do and damned if you don't."

Just to double-check, how is it pronounced?
Edited 2016-03-26 12:03 (UTC)

[identity profile] subsub1.livejournal.com 2016-03-29 05:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Actually if used figuratively, 'Zugzwang' is used for a situation that forces you to make a decision, but it does not necessarily mean it will be a disadvantage (as it will be in chess). You just cannot not make a move (e.g. just wait for the outcome).