- A definitive decision, verdict, or opinion has not yet been reached or formed; it remains uncertain what the final outcome or judgment will be.
Explanation
Origin
- Directly references the legal process. When a trial jury retires to deliberate ('goes out'), the verdict is unknown until they return and announce it.
- While the jury is deliberating, the outcome is uncertain – the jury is still out.
- Metaphorically, this applies to any situation where a final conclusion, evaluation, or decision is pending, and the result is currently unknown or being debated.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- TBD (To Be Determined)
- Still up in the air.
- Who knows? / Your guess is as good as mine.
- Time will tell.
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- N/A. Expresses uncertainty, typically not done with vulgarity.
Milder/Standard:
- The outcome is uncertain.
- No decision has been reached yet.
- It is yet to be determined.
- The evaluation is ongoing.
- A conclusion has not been formed.
Situational Appropriateness
- Appropriate in most contexts, informal to formal. Useful for expressing that a conclusion hasn't been reached yet without committing to a premature judgment.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Non-native speakers might mistake it for a literal reference to a court jury if the context isn't clearly metaphorical. Explain it applies to any undecided situation.
Examples
- Is the new company policy effective? It's too soon to tell; the jury's still out.
- We've heard arguments for and against the proposal, but the jury's still out on whether it will be approved.
- My opinion on the movie? The jury's still out – I need to think about it more.
Dialogue
Student A: Do you think Professor Evans is a good lecturer? I'm thinking of taking his class next semester.
Student B: Hmm, the jury's still out on that one. Some students find him brilliant, others say he's really disorganized. I haven't taken his class myself.
Student A: Okay, maybe I should ask around a bit more then.
Social Media Examples
- Tried the new AI writing tool. The jury's still out on whether it's genuinely helpful or just creates generic fluff. #AI #writingtech
- Will working from home become permanent for most companies? The jury's still out, depends on the industry I guess. #remotework #futureofwork
- My take on the season finale? Jury's still out. Need to process that ending! 🤯 #TVshow #finale
Response Patterns
- Okay, fair enough.
- So, it's too early to say?
- What are the different opinions so far?
- Keep me posted when a decision is made.
- Let me know what you think eventually.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing the 'jury's still out':
- Asking for any preliminary findings or opinions (Any leanings yet?).
- Inquiring about the timeline (When do you expect a decision? or When will we know more?).
- Acknowledging the uncertainty and agreeing to wait for more information.
Conversation Starter
- No. It's a comment on the status of a decision, evaluation, or outcome.
Intonation
- Usually neutral, indicating uncertainty or a lack of finality.
- Stress often on JUry's and OUT. As far as I'm concerned, the JUry's still OUT.
Generation Differences
- Universal expression, understood and used by all age groups.
Regional Variations
- Universal across English-speaking regions.