PhrasesHub

Jury is still out

    Definitions

      • uncertainty
        Indicate that a decision has not yet been made or that it is still uncertain

      • undecided
        Express that there is still debate or disagreement about something, and a final decision or consensus has not been reached

    Examples of Jury is still out

    • The jury is still out on whether the new diet pill will be successful in the market.

      This idiom is used in this example to suggest that it is unclear whether the diet pill will be successful or not. The "jury" refers to a group of people who make a decision in a legal trial, and in this metaphorical sense, it implies that the success of the diet pill will only be determined by how it performs in the market and whether it is effective for people who use it. The idiom highlights the uncertainty surrounding the outcome of a situation, when there isn't enough evidence to make a definitive decision.

    • The jury is still out on whether or not the new president's policies will be successful in achieving their intended outcomes.

      This idiom is used to indicate that it is uncertain whether a particular situation, action, or decision will have the desired result. The phrase "jury is still out" comes from the idea that after a trial, it is the job of the jury to decide if the accused is guilty or innocent. If the jury has not yet reached a verdict, it is said that the "jury is still out." In this example, the idiom is being used to convey that it is too soon to determine whether the new president's policies will be effective or not.

    • There's still a lot of debate about whether or not genetically modified foods are safe for human consumption, so the jury's still out on that issue.

      This example further illustrates the meaning of the idiom. In this case, it is being used to describe a situation where there is ongoing discussion or uncertainty about a particular topic. The idea is that until a final decision is made or more information is gathered, it is too early to make a definitive statement about the safety of genetically modified foods.

    • I'm still undecided about which college to attend, so the jury's still out on that one.

      Here, the idiom is used to indicate that the speaker has not yet made a choice or reached a conclusion about which college to attend. This could be for a few different reasons: they may be considering multiple options, they may be waiting for more information, or they may simply be taking their time to make an informed decision. Regardless, the fact that a decision has not yet been reached is being compared to the situation of a jury who has not yet reached a verdict.

    • Although the company's stock price has been steadily declining for several months, it's still too early to say whether this is a temporary setback or a sign of more serious trouble ahead, so the jury's still out on that issue.

      This final example expands on the potential outcomes of the situation being described. In this case, the idiom is being used to convey that the cause of the company's declining stock price is not yet clear, and it may take more time to determine whether this is a short-term problem or something more serious that could have a long-term impact on the company's future performance. The idea is that just as a jury may need to gather additional evidence or hear more testimony before reaching a verdict, more information may be necessary to assess the true nature of the company's stock price decline.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "jury is still out" is used to convey uncertainty or indecision. It can be used to indicate that a decision has not yet been made, or that there is still debate or disagreement about something. The phrase is often used in situations where the outcome or resolution is still pending, and a final decision or consensus has not been reached.

    Origin of "Jury is still out"

    The origin of the idiom "jury is still out" can be traced back to the legal system. In a trial, the jury is responsible for reaching a verdict or decision based on the evidence presented. The phrase likely originated from the idea that until the jury reaches a decision, there is still uncertainty about the outcome of the trial. Over time, the idiom has been adopted into everyday language to convey the idea of uncertainty or indecision in a broader sense.

    For example, if a group of people is debating a controversial issue and has not yet come to a conclusion, someone might say "the jury is still out on that one" to express that there is still uncertainty or disagreement about the matter. This use of the idiom draws on its original legal context to convey the idea that a decision or consensus has not yet been reached.