gray area

Idioms  

1. Indeterminate territory, undefined position, neither here nor there. For example, There's a large gray area between what is legal and what is not. This term, which uses gray in the sense of “neither black nor white” (or halfway between the two), dates only from the mid-1900s.

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Example Sentences

But it’s refreshing to see a film operate outside of the gray area, where so many movies of its ilk have gotten lost in recent years.

From Salon

For investors, the signal is becoming increasingly clear: Steer clear of the gray areas.

From The Wall Street Journal

By definition, occupying the gray area between a bar and a restaurant, taverns aren’t fancy.

From The Wall Street Journal

I like the straightforward transaction of reserving a hotel room, not the gray area of booking with a stranger who—the cozy “host” title notwithstanding—plans to charge me for my stay.

From The Wall Street Journal

The report said the government is concerned about “gray areas” as well as the prospect of having to negotiate individual use cases.

From MarketWatch