50 Idioms for Uncertainty With Meanings & Sentences
Idioms for Uncertainty
1. Up in the air
Meaning: Not decided yet
In a Sentence: Our vacation plans are up in the air because Dad is waiting for work dates. / The school trip is still up in the air because the bus isn’t fixed.
Other Ways to Say: Still unsure / Not set yet
2. In limbo
Meaning: In a state of waiting, unsure what will happen
In a Sentence: My soccer team is in limbo until we get a new coach. / We’re in limbo about our classroom change.
Other Ways to Say: On hold / Stuck waiting
3. Touch and go
Meaning: Uncertain and risky
In a Sentence: It was touch and go whether we’d make it to the airport on time.
Other Ways to Say: Risky / Could go either way
4. On the fence
Meaning: Not able to decide
In a Sentence: I’m on the fence about joining the art club.
Other Ways to Say: Undecided / Torn between
5. In the dark
Meaning: Not knowing what is happening
In a Sentence: We’re in the dark about the new school rules.
Other Ways to Say: Unaware / Not informed
6. Wait and see
Meaning: Not act now, just watch what happens
In a Sentence: Let’s wait and see if it rains before canceling the picnic.
Other Ways to Say: Hold off / Be patient
7. Anyone’s guess
Meaning: Impossible to know
In a Sentence: Whether the team will win is anyone’s guess.
Other Ways to Say: Unknown / Unpredictable
8. Iffy
Meaning: Uncertain or doubtful
In a Sentence: The weather looks iffy for our outdoor game.
Other Ways to Say: Doubtful / Not sure
9. In a fog
Meaning: Confused or uncertain
In a Sentence: I felt in a fog during the tough math test.
Other Ways to Say: Confused / Not thinking clearly
10. Blow hot and cold
Meaning: Keep changing your mind
In a Sentence: He blows hot and cold about joining the band.
Other Ways to Say: Indecisive / Unstable
11. Up for grabs
Meaning: Not decided yet; available
In a Sentence: The lead role in the play is still up for grabs.
Other Ways to Say: Not taken / Still open
12. Nothing is set in stone
Meaning: Plans can still change
In a Sentence: Our vacation isn’t set in stone yet.
Other Ways to Say: Flexible / Not finalized
13. In two minds
Meaning: Unsure or torn between choices
In a Sentence: I’m in two minds about what to wear.
Other Ways to Say: Can’t decide / Split decision
14. In question
Meaning: Uncertain or under doubt
In a Sentence: His place on the team is in question.
Other Ways to Say: Not confirmed / Up in the air
15. A gray area
Meaning: Not clear or definite
In a Sentence: The rule about phones in school is a gray area.
Other Ways to Say: Unclear / Uncertain
16. Flip a coin
Meaning: Decide something by chance
In a Sentence: We flipped a coin to pick the movie.
Other Ways to Say: Leave it to luck / Random choice
17. Hang in the balance
Meaning: Uncertain and at risk
In a Sentence: Our team’s future hangs in the balance.
Other Ways to Say: At risk / Not secure
18. Left hanging
Meaning: Not given an answer
In a Sentence: I was left hanging about the weekend plans.
Other Ways to Say: Waiting / No reply
19. Toss-up
Meaning: An even chance between two things
In a Sentence: It’s a toss-up whether we’ll go to the zoo or the museum.
Other Ways to Say: 50/50 / Even odds
20. Cloud of doubt
Meaning: Not fully certain
In a Sentence: There’s a cloud of doubt over the results.
Other Ways to Say: Questionable / Not sure
21. Skating on thin ice
Meaning: In a risky or uncertain situation
In a Sentence: He’s skating on thin ice with those late homework submissions.
Other Ways to Say: Risky / On edge
22. Behind closed doors
Meaning: Uncertain due to secrecy
In a Sentence: The deal was made behind closed doors, so we’re unsure.
Other Ways to Say: In private / Secretive
23. Out in left field
Meaning: Unexpected and uncertain
In a Sentence: His answer came out in left field and confused everyone.
Other Ways to Say: Strange / Unclear
24. Wait in the wings
Meaning: Waiting for a chance
In a Sentence: Several players are waiting in the wings for their turn.
Other Ways to Say: On standby / Ready, but unsure
25. In flux
Meaning: Changing and uncertain
In a Sentence: The classroom schedule is in flux right now.
Other Ways to Say: Changing / Not fixed
26. Under wraps
Meaning: Hidden and uncertain
In a Sentence: The school’s surprise is still under wraps.
Other Ways to Say: Secret / Not revealed
27. See which way the wind blows
Meaning: Wait to decide until you know more
In a Sentence: Let’s see which way the wind blows before choosing sides.
Other Ways to Say: Wait and watch / Be cautious
28. In suspense
Meaning: Waiting in uncertainty
In a Sentence: We were in suspense about who won the contest.
Other Ways to Say: Anxious / On edge
29. Don’t know which way to turn
Meaning: Unsure what to do
In a Sentence: I didn’t know which way to turn after losing my keys.
Other Ways to Say: Confused / Stuck
30. In a quandary
Meaning: Stuck between two hard choices
In a Sentence: I’m in a quandary about whether to stay or leave.
Other Ways to Say: Dilemma / Tough choice
31. The jury is still out
Meaning: Decision or result is not final
In a Sentence: The jury is still out on the new teacher’s style.
Other Ways to Say: Not decided / Undetermined
32. A roll of the dice
Meaning: Something that is a gamble
In a Sentence: Taking that job was a roll of the dice.
Other Ways to Say: Risk / Chance move
33. In the balance
Meaning: Outcome is uncertain
In a Sentence: The results are still in the balance.
Other Ways to Say: Could go either way / Not final
34. On shaky ground
Meaning: Not secure or stable
In a Sentence: His excuses put him on shaky ground.
Other Ways to Say: Not solid / Unstable
35. It’s a mystery
Meaning: Something completely unknown
In a Sentence: Where the gift came from is a mystery.
Other Ways to Say: Unknown / Unsure
36. Jury’s still out
Meaning: A decision hasn’t been made
In a Sentence: The jury’s still out on the new coach’s methods.
Other Ways to Say: Not certain / Still waiting
37. Nobody knows for sure
Meaning: No one is certain
In a Sentence: Nobody knows for sure if school will be closed tomorrow.
Other Ways to Say: No confirmation / Still a guess
38. Could go either way
Meaning: The outcome is unpredictable
In a Sentence: This race could go either way.
Other Ways to Say: 50/50 / Not sure
39. On the bubble
Meaning: At risk or uncertain of success
In a Sentence: Our team is on the bubble for the playoffs.
Other Ways to Say: In doubt / On edge
40. That remains to be seen
Meaning: Still unknown
In a Sentence: Whether he’ll show up remains to be seen.
Other Ways to Say: Wait and see / Not sure
41. Hidden in plain sight
Meaning: Something unclear, even if visible
In a Sentence: The answer was hidden in plain sight.
Other Ways to Say: Hard to spot / Not obvious
42. An open question
Meaning: Still not answered
In a Sentence: Who will lead the class remains an open question.
Other Ways to Say: Unanswered / Not clear
43. Murky waters
Meaning: A situation that is unclear or confusing
In a Sentence: Changing the rules has led to murky waters.
Other Ways to Say: Confusing / Unclear
44. Up in smoke
Meaning: Hopes or plans suddenly uncertain
In a Sentence: Our field trip went up in smoke due to the rain.
Other Ways to Say: Gone / Ruined
45. On thin ice
Meaning: In a risky or uncertain situation
In a Sentence: She’s on thin ice with the teacher.
Other Ways to Say: In trouble / At risk
46. Blow in the wind
Meaning: Easily changed, not settled
In a Sentence: His opinion blows in the wind.
Other Ways to Say: Fickle / Uncertain
47. Dancing around the issue
Meaning: Not giving a clear answer
In a Sentence: He kept dancing around the issue of homework.
Other Ways to Say: Avoiding / Not clear
48. Foggy at best
Meaning: Unclear or uncertain
In a Sentence: The instructions were foggy at best.
Other Ways to Say: Not clear / Confusing
49. Not carved in stone
Meaning: Subject to change
In a Sentence: The date is not carved in stone.
Other Ways to Say: Flexible / May change
50. Could swing either way
Meaning: Uncertain between two outcomes
In a Sentence: The decision could swing either way.
Other Ways to Say: Unpredictable / Up in the air
