the jury is out
idiomatic phrase

- a decision has not yet been reached on a controversial subject

- used to say that something has not yet been decided or has not yet become clear

Oxford Languages, Merriam-Webster

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WORD ORIGIN

In legal system practice, when a jury deliberates, they literally leave the courtroom to discuss the case privately. "Out" means physically removed from the courtroom during deliberation. The first recorded use was in mid-19th century in American legal contexts.

In the 1940s and 1950s, the phrase began appearing in non-legal contexts to mean any situation where a decision/conclusion is pending. By the 1960’s it had become common in journalism and everyday speech.

Modern usage of "The jury is still out on..." = we don't yet know, the evidence is inconclusive.

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LEGALLY SPEAKING
Legal terms used in everyday language

- Case closed = signals the end of a discussion or argument ("He apologized. Case closed.").

- Cross-examine = used to describe intense questioning ("He cross-examined me about my weekend plans.").

- "I rest my case" = used when my point is proven beyond doubt ("The Oxford Dictionary says it here in black and white.")

- On trial = used when someone feels scrutinized or judged ("Every time I speak up in meetings, I feel like I'm on trial.")

- Open and shut case = used when a situation has a clear, undeniable conclusion ("The evidence for the software failure is clear. It's an open and shut case.")

- Overruled = used when someone's decision or opinion is rejected ("My idea to meet off-site was overruled by the team.").

- Raise an objection = to express disagreement or resistance in any discussion (“I must raise an objection. The numbers in this excel table just don't add up!")

- Throw the book at someone = to punish severely ("Throw the book at them. They stole and used our report.")

- Trial by fire = used to describe any difficult first experience ("Her first day on the job was a real trial by fire.").

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SYNONYMS

a coin toss, a toss-up, all bets are off, anybody's guess (call), case still open, could go either way, decision pending, deliberating, fence-sitting, fifty-fifty, hanging in the air (in the balance), haven't made up our minds, in suspense, in the balance, it remains to be seen, it's a toss-up, JURY’S STILL OUT, no clear answer (winner), no decision yet, not carved in stone, not decided (settled), on the fence, open question, pending, still deciding (out for deliberation, under review), that remains to be seen, the verdict is pending, time will tell, too close to call, touch and go, uncertain, uncertainty remains, unclear (outcome), undecided, undetermined, unresolved, unsettled, up for grabs, up in the air, verdict not in, wait and see, waiting for the other shoe to drop, we'll see, yet to be determined

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THANKS to Jan for suggesting today’s OWAD.

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation today, say something like:

"Is home office better for productivity, or is THE JURY STILL OUT?"

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