両りょう天てん秤びんをかける

expression, ichidan verb

try to have it both ways; play a double game; hedge one's bets

Idiomatic expression meaning to try to benefit from two conflicting options simultaneously, often with a negative connotation of opportunism or indecisiveness.

See also: 両天秤にかける

• 彼かれは二ふたつの会かい社しゃに両りょう天てん秤びんをかけて、結けっ局きょくどちらからも内ない定ていをもらえなかった。

  He tried to play both companies against each other and ended up not getting an offer from either.

• そんなに両りょう天てん秤びんをかけていると、どちらも失うしなうよ。

  If you keep trying to have it both ways, you'll lose both.