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Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were given the illusion of choice, but in reality, only one option was available? Well, this phrase is Hobsons choice wherein the person is made to accept what is offered or face the alternative of having nothing. One must either accept what’s offered or face the alternative of having nothing. Some common examples include: being forced to accept a job offer with no other options or having to choose between a poor-quality item or nothing at all. To find out more about Hobsons Choice idiom, keep reading this blog.
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Hobsons Choice Idiom: Meaning, Origin & Examples
To give a clear meaning behind Hobsons Choice idiom, imagine you are at a store and you want to buy a shirt. The shopkeeper says, “You can have this red shirt, or you can leave.” That’s a Hobson’s choice. It’s when you’re given a single option, and you have to take it or leave it empty-handed.
As for the origin of this idiom, it comes from Thomas Hobson, a stable owner in Cambridge, England, during the 17th century. Hobson had a unique way of renting out horses, he would only allow customers to choose the horse that was nearest to the door. This meant that customers had to either take that horse or leave without one, creating a situation where they had no real choice.
Take a look at some of the examples behind the Hobsons Choice idiom:
- Faced with Hobson’s choice, she had to accept the job offer, even though it wasn’t her ideal position.
- The company’s strict dress code presented employees with a Hobson’s choice: wear the uniform or face disciplinary action.
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Hobsons Choice Idiom: Synonym
Now that we know that this idiom reflects the idea of having no real choice. Let us look at some of the synonyms or similar words which can be used in place of this idiom:
| Take it or leave it | Dictated choice |
| Limited option | One-size-fits-all |
| Imposed choice | Imperative choice |
We have also compiled this infographic with all the synonyms of Hobsons Choice idiom for you. You can easily save and download this image for future reference.
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Hobsons Choice Idiom Example Sentences
It is like saying “Take it or leave it”, but with no real choice involved. Here are simple example sentences on this idiom:
- When I asked for a sandwich, the café said it was either turkey or nothing; it was a Hobson’s choice.
- The teacher told us we could either finish our project today or get a zero; that was a Hobson’s choice.
- At the car dealership, I found only one model available in my budget, so it felt like Hobson’s choice.
- The restaurant had run out of all desserts except for one, making it a Hobson’s choice for dessert lovers.
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Hobson’s Choice Idiom Quiz
Instruction: Choose the correct option from the following questions.
- What is the meaning of the idiom “Hobson’s Choice”?
a) A pleasant choice
b) The choice to die
c) The choice to live
d) With no choice at all
e) Garrulity
- The idiom “Hobson’s Choice” originated from
a) A stable manager named Thomas Hobson in the 1600s
b) A philosopher named Hobson in the 1800s
c) A writer named Hobson in the 1900s
d) A politician named Hobson in the 1700s
e) A businessman named Hobson in the 1500s
- According to the origin, Hobson would allow people to:
a) Rent horses from him
b) Buy horses from him
c) Ride horses for free
d) Race horses for him
e) Sell horses to him
- Hobson gave people the choice of:
a) The horse he offered or the next one in line
b) Buying a horse or not buying one at all
c) Renting a horse for the day or the week
d) Riding a horse or driving a carriage
e) Keeping the horse or returning it
- In the phrase “Hobson’s Choice”, the word “Hobson” refers to:
a) A famous philosopher
b) A famous writer
c) A famous politician
d) A famous businessman
e) A stable manager
- The phrase “Hobson’s Choice” is used to describe:
a) A pleasant situation with many good options
b) A difficult situation with only bad options
c) A situation with no options at all
d) A situation with too many options to choose from
e) A situation that is impossible to decide
- An example sentence using “Hobson’s Choice” is:
a) “It was a Hobson’s choice whether to eat the cake or the pie.”
b) “The boss gave him Hobson’s choice – work hard or get fired.”
c) “She had Hobson’s choice between taking the job or staying unemployed.”
d) “I had Hobson’s choice between buying the red car or the blue car.”
e) “They had Hobson’s choice between visiting the beach or the mountains.”
- The opposite of “Hobson’s Choice” would be:
a) A difficult choice
b) A pleasant choice
c) A free choice with many alternatives
d) A choice that is impossible to make
e) A choice that is forced upon someone
- In modern usage, “Hobson’s Choice” is used to describe:
a) A pleasant situation with many good options
b) A situation with no options at all
c) A difficult situation with only bad options
d) A situation with too many options to choose from
e) A situation that is impossible to decide
Check Your Answers:
- D) With no choice at all
- A) A stable manager named Thomas Hobson in the 1600s
- A) Rent horses from him
- A) The horse he offered or the next one in line
- E) A stable manager
- C) A situation with no options at all
- B) The boss gave him Hobson’s choice – work hard or get fired.”
- C) A free choice with many alternatives
- B) A situation with no options at all
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FAQs
The idiom “Hobson’s choice” originated from Thomas Hobson, a livery stable owner in Cambridge, England during the early 17th century. Hobson had a strict policy when renting out his horses – customers had to take the horse closest to the stable door or they could not rent a horse at all.
Hobson’s Choice revolves around a widowed father, Henry Hobson, who is determined to prevent his three daughters from marrying to avoid paying dowries. His daughters, however, are clever and resourceful, and they devise plans to outwit him.
An idiom is a phrase or expression unique to a particular person or group. For example, if your friend uses the term “squirrelly nuteriffic!” to describe something as excellent, she’s using her own idiom. The word “idiom” comes from the Greek word “idios,” which means “personal.”
This was all about the Hobsons Choice Idiom for you. Hopefully, you understood the concept and where it’s used. Moreover, you can also follow the Learn English page of Leverage Edu for more exciting and informative blogs related to grammar.
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