limbo Definition
- 1an uncertain situation that you cannot control and in which there is no progress or improvement
- 2a dance from the West Indies in which dancers move under a bar while leaning backwards and without touching the floor with their hands or feet
Using limbo: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "limbo" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The project is stuck in limbo due to budget cuts.
Example
The negotiations have been in limbo for months.
Example
The company's future is in limbo until the court case is resolved.
limbo Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for limbo
- uncertainty
- stagnation
- inactivity
- quandary
- standstill
Phrases with limbo
Example
The proposal has been in limbo for weeks, with no decision made yet.
to perform the dance from the West Indies in which dancers move under a bar while leaning backwards and without touching the floor with their hands or feet
Example
At the party, we danced the limbo and had a lot of fun.
to be caught between two situations or choices, unable to make a decision or take action
Example
She was in limbo between staying at her current job or accepting the new offer.
Origins of limbo
from Latin 'limbus', meaning 'edge' or 'boundary'
Summary: limbo in Brief
The term 'limbo' [ˈlɪmbəʊ] refers to an uncertain situation with no progress or improvement. It can describe a project, negotiation, or company's future, as in 'The project is stuck in limbo due to budget cuts.' 'Limbo' also denotes a dance from the West Indies where dancers move under a bar while leaning backwards and without touching the floor with their hands or feet. The phrase 'in limbo' means in a state of uncertainty or neglect, while 'be in limbo between' describes being caught between two situations or choices.
