in limbo

Idioms  

1. In a condition of oblivion or neglect, as in They kept her application in limbo for months . [Early 1600s]

2. An intermediate or transitional state, as in After his editor left the firm, his book was in limbo . [Early 1600s] Both usages allude to the theological meaning of limbo , that is, a place outside hell and heaven to which unbaptized infants and the righteous who died before Christ's coming were traditionally consigned.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

in limbo

But for now she and dozens more people who work the same spot are left in limbo, without an income.

From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 2026

“The current system means living in limbo, confined, and often stressed,” Sackett said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

Now that mission is in limbo, and, according to the May inspector general’s report, defense leadership “withheld access” to department tools that track the program’s implementation.

From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026

Nobody speaks to the media while the nation is in limbo.

From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026

This was much too long even for me to remain in limbo, so I spent the rest of the afternoon cutting accurate representations of the bases out of stiff cardboard.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson