Facing two equally unpleasant, dangerous, or risky alternatives, where the avoidance of one ensures encountering the harm of the other. I was between the hammer and the anvil, for if I didn't take out another loan—and go deeper into debt—I could not pay off the debts I already owed. The police knew with certainty he had drugs in his car, so he became trapped between the hammer and the anvil: either lie to the police, or admit that the drugs belonged to him.

To be in a formative but immature or unready state; to be in the midst of being prepared, discussed, planned, etc., but not yet ready. The details of the proposed merger are still on the anvil, but we should see something ready before the end of the summer. There are a couple of projects that have been on the anvil since the new manager came on board, but nothing has taken any definite shape as yet.

In a formative but immature or unready state; being prepared, discussed, planned, etc., but not yet ready. The details of the proposed merger are still on the anvil, but we should see something ready before the end of the summer. I've had a couple of projects on the anvil recently, but nothing has taken any definite shape yet.