in limbo
Idioms-
In a condition of oblivion or neglect, as in They kept her application in limbo for months . [Early 1600s]
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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.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"I'm just left in limbo, unable to work and unable to get better, even though I know there's a solution out there."
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Life continued to move forward, even as I felt suspended in limbo.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
For a week, the Metropolitan Little League’s fall season was in limbo.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Paramount, which saw its deal as pro-competition, didn’t see a need to make major changes, and the deal was stuck in limbo.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
Kathy told him it was in St. Gabriel, and that because the legal system was in limbo, it would be some time before they could even hope to get Abdulrahman out.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
