What is the meaning of Terry Pratchett's idiom/pun "coming and going"?

Question

I have encountered a pun in a novel by Terry Pratchett that I cannot wrap my head around. I'm not a native English speaker, and any assistance with this would be highly appreciated. The pun seems to have nothing to do with the story and everything to do with the English language, which is why I'm asking here.

To give context for the pun, I have to give a light spoiler for Jingo, directly, and Men at Arms, indirectly, from the Discworld series of novels, so skip this post if you're planning on reading either novel.

At one early point in Jingo, two main characters, Carrot and Angua, visit a room rented by a landlady. The landlady mentions that no pets or women are allowed on the premises. While alone in the room, the below exchange takes place between Carrot, a human male, and Angua, a female werewolf:

"Carrot? Why are we whispering?"

"No wimmin, remember?"

"And no pets," said Angua. "So she's got me coming and going. Don't look like that," she added, whens she saw his face. "It's only bad taste if someone else says it. I'm allowed."

I can tell from context that "coming and going" is some kind of pun, and possibly a lewd one, but I cannot figure out what the word play is based on. Is it an existing English phrase that's being reused with a different meaning, because of Angua being a werewolf?

Answer 1

As mentioned in the comments, the "has me coming and going" part is not a pun but a normal English idiom meaning that no matter what choice you make, the outcome will be something you don't want. So it is really just a reference to the fact that Angua has two different forms available: she can be a female human or a female wolf. But the rules of the room state that no women are allowed, and that no pets are allowed, so if Angua tries to get past one rule by taking her other form, the second rule applies instead, and she is still excluded.

The additional bit about "it's only in bad taste if someone else says it" is referring to calling a werewolf (an intelligent and often highly dangerous being) a pet. As a werewolf herself, Angua can refer to werewolves however she wants; only a non-werewolf calling a werewolf a pet would be offensive.

See the idiom's definition at idioms.freedictionary.com for some more explanation.

Answer 2

It is a common English expression, and by that i mean its common in England, not English as in the language... Having someone "coming and going" generally means giving someone no option out, other similar expressions or sayings are "your damned if you do, and damned if you don't" and "caught between a rock and a hard place". Although the last two imply that a decision has to be made... the "coming and going" expression means basically that she loses out either way with the conditions applied. Oh and the last statement "its only bad taste if someone else says it" (referring to the "pet" clause), think of a bad racial slur that you could call yourself with no problem, If someone else calls you it... that's a different matter. Like black guys in the american movies and rap songs using the "N" word about themselves and to other black guys. if a white guy uses it to a black person, its seen as derogatory and a racial slur. She can use the term herself with no problem.