Hobson’s choice
phrase

- an apparently free choice when there is no real alternative

- the necessity of accepting one of two or more equally objectionable alternatives

- a situation in which it seems that you can choose between different things or actions, but there is really only one thing that you can take or do

Merriam-Webster, Cambridge Dictionary

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PHRASE ORIGIN

The phrase "Hobson's choice" has an interesting etymology tied to a specific historical figure, Thomas Hobson (1544-1631), a livery stable owner in Cambridge, England. Hobson rented out horses from his stable of about 40 horses.

To prevent the overuse of his best horses, he required customers to take the horse in the stall nearest to the door. This appeared to offer a choice, but in reality, customers could only take the horse offered or none at all.

The first known written usage was in The Rustick's Alarm to the Rabbies by Samuel Fisher in 1660.

"Hobson's choice" ultimately came to mean:

- A free choice in which only one option is actually offered
- An illusion of choice when there is no real alternative
- A choice between something or nothing, often expressed as "take it or leave it"

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BLACK OR NOTHING!

Henry Ford's famous statement, "You can have any color you like, so long as it's black,” was not just a quip but a business strategy. Ford's Model T revolutionized the automobile industry by simplifying production through standardization. By offering only black cars, Ford reduced costs and increased efficiency, using quicker-drying black paint to keep assembly lines moving. This decision reflected Ford's focus on affordability and mass production over customization.

In today’s world, many companies offer a form of "Hobson's choice" in their products. For instance, Apple restricts hardware modifications, forcing customers to choose only from preset options. Fast-food chains often standardize meal combinations with little room for alterations, maximizing operational efficiency. Similarly, budget airlines offer one-size-fits-all services, with every additional convenience requiring an extra fee.

While this approach may seem limiting, it has practical benefits: streamlining production, lowering prices, and simplifying decision-making for consumers.

In a world of endless options, sometimes the boldest choice is to offer no choice at all!

Helga & Paul Smith

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SYNONYMS

a fait accompli, all or nothing, an offer you can't refuse, back against the wall, between a rock and a hard place, between scylla and charybdis, between the devil and the deep blue sea, between the hammer and the anvil, between two fires, bound hand and foot, catch-22, choiceless choice, cleft stick, compulsion, corner, cornered, dilemma, double-bind, false choice, forced choice, frying pan or the fire, HOBSON’S CHOICE, illusion of choice, illusory choice, in a bind, in a box, in a corner, in a fix, in a jam, in a pickle, in a pinch, in a predicament, in a tight spot, inevitability, lack of alternative, lack of choice, lose-lose situation, must-have, no alternative, no choice (at all), no other option, no way out, one way or the other, one-way street, only game in town, only option, out of the frying pan into the fire, painted into a corner, pick your poison, predicament, pseudo-choice, quandary, take it or leave it, tight spot, unavoidable choice, zero choice

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“The airline's in-flight menu presented a HOBSON’S CHOICE: rubber chicken or leather beef.”

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