stool

To be overlooked, neglected, or ignored, especially due to mismanagement or disarray in the midst of a large or complex situation. In these overcrowded and underfunded public schools, many students end up falling between the cracks. The details of the enforcement of the law seem to have fallen between the cracks during its creation.

An informant, especially a criminal working as a spy for law enforcement officers. Although the criminal agreed to help the police in order to avoid prison time, he was afraid the other gang members would kill him if they discovered he was a stool pigeon.

Fig. to come somewhere between two possibilities and so fail to meet the requirements of either. The material is not suitable for an academic book or for a popular one. It falls between two stools. He tries to be both teacher and friend, but falls between two stools.

Sl. to inform (on someone). Jane would stool on anybody, even her own mother. Somebody stooled and ruined the whole layout.

an informer. (Originally underworld.) Some stool pigeon spilled the works to the boys in blue. There's nothing I hate worse than a stoolie.

a person, especially a criminal, who secretly gives information to the police in order to help them catch other criminals Once they discovered he was a stool pigeon, it was only a matter of time before they had him killed.

if something falls between two stools, it fails because it is neither one type of thing nor another and if someone falls between two stools, they fail because they try to combine two different types of thing that cannot be combined For me, it fell between two stools, being neither romantic fiction nor serious literature. If you try to organize an event that will appeal to both young and old, you can end up caught between two stools.

Also, fall through the cracks or between two stools . Be neglected or overlooked; also, not fit either of two alternatives. For example, Please make sure that either our department or yours deals with this account, lest it fall between the cracks , or Trying to be both teacher and parent, she fell between two stools. The variant using stools, with its image of a person falling to the ground between two chairs instead of sitting down on one or the other, was already a proverb in ancient times; in English it was first recorded about 1390.

A decoy or informer, especially a police spy. For example, Watch out for Doug; I'm sure he's a stool pigeon for the supervisor. This term alludes to a bird tied to a stool or similar perch in order to attract other birds, which will then be shot. However, one writer believes that stool is a variant for stale or stall, both nouns used for a decoy bird before 1500 or so. [c. 1820]

To fail because of an inability to reconcile or choose between two courses of action.

To have difficulty defecating.