Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

can't do right for doing wrong

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.01 in modern English

Syllables: can't -do right -for -do-ing wrong
IPA

40

Scrabble Score

24

Letters

5

Syllables

12

Unique Chars

Meaning

phrase

Be in a situation where any course of action leads to a negative outcome.

British usage

Example Sentences

"“Hold your confounded tongue!” he bawled. “You can't do right for doing wrong, can you? No, by G-d! […]"
"Insolvency doesn't necessarily happen when a company is doing poorly; quite the contrary, it can happen just as easily when a company is too successful (you see, sometimes you can't do right for doing wrong!)."
"They, like the sufferer, need support, since the emotional demands placed upon them can be very intense. They often feel that they can't do right for doing wrong when trying to offer help to the sufferer."

Usage

British usage

Phrases

damned if one does and damned if one doesn't can't win for losing Morton's fork

Frequently Paired Words

damned if one does and damned if one doesn't can't win for losing zugzwang Morton's fork

Questions

What does can't do right for doing wrong mean?: Be in a situation where any course of action leads to a negative outcome.

How to pronounce can't do right for doing wrong

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