The Collaborative International Dictionary
Hobson's choice \Hob"son's choice"\ A choice without an alternative; the thing offered or nothing.
Note: It is said to have had its origin in the name of one Hobson, at Cambridge, England, who let horses, and required every customer to take in his turn the horse which stood next the stable door.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
English university slang term, supposedly a reference to Thomas Hobson (c.1544-1631), Cambridge stable manager who let horses and gave customers a choice of the horse next in line or none at all. Phrase popularized c.1660 by Milton, who was at Cambridge from 1625-29.
Wikipedia
A Hobson's choice is a free choice in which only one thing is offered. Because a person may refuse to accept what is offered, the two options are taking it or taking nothing. In other words, one may "take it or leave it." The phrase is said to have originated with Thomas Hobson (1544–1631), a livery stable owner in Cambridge, England, who offered customers the choice of either taking the horse in his stall nearest the door or taking none at all.
Hobson's Choice is a play by Harold Brighouse, the title taken from the popular expression, Hobson's choice — meaning no choice at all (from Thomas Hobson 1545–1631 who ran a thriving livery stable in Cambridge).
The first production was at the Princess Theatre in New York. It then transferred to London on 24 June 1916 at the Apollo Theatre, before moving to the Prince of Wales Theatre on 20 November 1916 (starring Norman McKinnel). The play was adapted for film several times and as a Broadway musical. The Crucible Theatre Sheffield staged a revival in June 2011 directed by Christopher Luscombe and starring Barrie Rutter, Zoe Waites and Philip McGinley.
The story is set in Salford in 1880. It bears many resemblances to the stories of Cinderella and King Lear: Deceased mother; three daughters, two of whom are pretty and frivolous, the third of whom is clever and hardworking; a fairy godmother (Mrs. Hepworth).
Hobson's Choice is a 1954 romantic comedy film directed by David Lean. It is based on the play of the same name by Harold Brighouse. It stars Charles Laughton in the role of Victorian bootmaker Henry Hobson, Brenda De Banzie as his eldest daughter and John Mills as a timid employee. The film also features Prunella Scales in one of her first roles.
Hobson's Choice won the British Academy Film Award for Best British Film 1954.
A Hobson's choice is one that must be taken or left.
The term may refer to:
Places- Hobson's Choice (Woodbine, Maryland), listed on the NRHP in Howard County, Maryland
- Hobson's Choice (Alberta, Virginia), listed on the NRHP in Brunswick County, Virginia
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Hobson's Choice (play), by Harold Brighouse (1915), which has been adapted numerous times:
- Hobson's Choice (1920 film), a silent film directed by Percy Nash
- Hobson's Choice (1931 film), directed by Thomas Bentley
- Hobson's Choice (1954 film), directed by David Lean
- Walking Happy, a 1966 Broadway musical by Jimmy Van Heusen
- Hobson's Choice (1983 film), a TV-movie directed by Gilbert Cates
- Hobson's Choice, a 1989 ballet by David Bintley
- "Hobson's Choice", a 1952 short story written by Alfred Bester
- The Terminal Experiment, a 1995 science fiction novel originally serialised under the title Hobson's Choice
Hobson's Choice, is an historic home located at Woodbine, Howard County, Maryland. It is a five- bay, two-and-a-half-story rectangular brick house built about 1830, with a low-pitched gable roof and a recent low two-story frame rear wing. The woodwork is Greek Revival in influence.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
Hobson's Choice is a 1920 British comedy drama film directed by Percy Nash and starring Joe Nightingale, Joan Ritz and Arthur Pitt. A Salford bootmaker is irritated to learn his daughter is to marry one of his cobblers, and his outrage grows when they set up a successful shop which challenges his own for business. It is the first film based on the play Hobson's Choice by Harold Brighouse.
Hobson's Choice is a 1931 British comedy drama film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring James Harcourt, Viola Lyel, Frank Pettingell and Herbert Lomas. Based on the play Hobson's Choice by Harold Brighouse, it follows the tale of a coarse bootshop owner who becomes outraged when his eldest daughter decides to marry a meek cobbler. It was produced by the leading British company of the time, British International Pictures, at their their studios in Elstree.
The film is missing from the BFI National Archive, and is listed as one of the British Film Institute's " 75 Most Wanted" lost films. An earlier silent film version of the play had been released in 1920.
Hobson's Choice is a historic home located near Alberta, Brunswick County, Virginia. It was built in the Palladian style about 1794 by Dr. Richard Feild for his bride Ann Meade, on land the groom bought from his father-in-law. The Edinburgh educated physician also had considerable knowledge of botany and astronomy, edited The Intelligencer and Petersburg Commercial Advertiser, and three times served as a Presidential elector. Although Feild died in 1829, the plantation stayed in the family until 1870.
The one-story brick structure has a central pavilion with flanking wings connected by hyphens in a late-Georgian style. A stone addition was built about 1860, a brick room added in 1947, and a frame enclosed porch about 1953.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Usage examples of "hobson's choice".
Count Olaf's henchman stopped in front of the children, put his hooks on his hips, and offered them a Hobson's choice.
What she did have was, a warm and gentle voice and a sweet personality-which was enough, as a customer might pick her through Hobson's choice on a busy night, but once he had done so, he picked her some later time on purpose.
We yearn for the yesterdays and tomorrows, never realizing that we are faced with Hobson's choice.
I went, Hobson's choice, up the gangway of the strange vessel to learn, if possible, what had become of the Konge Knut.