The idiom "Hobson's choice" means to have no real choice at all. It is used when someone is given only one option or choice, and that option is not really a choice at all.
The origin of this idiom comes from a man named Thomas Hobson, who was a stable owner in Cambridge, England in the 16th century. Hobson rented out horses to people, but he had a strict rule that customers could only rent the horse that was closest to the stable door. This meant that customers had no real choice in which horse they could rent, hence the phrase "Hobson's choice."
For example, if someone is offered a job with a very low salary or no job at all, they might say they have a "Hobson's choice" because they don't really have a choice. Another example could be if someone is asked to choose between two options, but both options are equally bad, they might say they have a "Hobson's choice."
In short, "Hobson's choice" is used to describe a situation where someone is given only one option, and that option is not really a choice at all.
• When it came to selecting a college, the student felt like they only had a Hobson's choice because they were limited by their financial situation.
• When it comes to choosing classes, I only have a Hobson's choice because I have to take the classes my major requires.
• The job offer I received was a Hobson's choice because I had to choose between taking the job or staying unemployed.
• I didn't want to eat liver for dinner, but it was that or nothing – it was a Hobson's choice.
• The politician gave voters a Hobson's choice between two candidates who both had questionable pasts.
• The company's CEO realized that they had created a Hobson's choice for their employees, forcing them to choose between their jobs and their health.
• The company gave me a Hobson's choice between taking a pay cut or losing my job.
• The politician argued that the election was a Hobson's choice between two equally unappealing candidates.
• When it comes to choosing a career path, he felt like it was a Hobson's choice as he had limited options.
• As the only doctor in the remote village, he had to make a Hobson's choice between which patients to treat first in the midst of a medical emergency.
• I faced a Hobson's choice between betraying my friend's trust or jeopardizing my own career.
• I had no choice but to attend the meeting as it was a Hobson's choice.