Level C1

the jury is still out

a decision or judgement hasn't been reached yet

In Spanish

todavía está por verse, aún no se sabe

Examples

  • The jury is still out on whether remote work boosts productivity.
  • The jury is still out on the benefits of the new policy.
  • Scientists say the jury is still out regarding the long-term effects of the drug.

When it's used

This idiom is used when a decision or judgement has not yet been made. It is common in conversational English and can be found in both spoken and written contexts. It's often used in discussions about ongoing debates or unresolved issues.

The common mistake

A common mistake is to translate the idiom as 'the jury is still outside', which is not English. This literal translation does not convey the intended meaning and sounds awkward to native speakers.

Related idioms

Recognising it isn't the same as using it

Reading an idiom and understanding it is step one. Dropping it into a conversation, at the right moment, without stopping to think, is another — and that only comes from speaking.

Practise speaking