a no-go area

A place that is extremely dangerous to enter, especially because it is controlled by a violent group or is in the midst of military conflict. That part of the city is so overridden with gangs that it has essentially become a no-go area for police and citizens alike. Whoa, that's a no-go area unless you're in a Humvee. Armed insurgents are just waiting to cut people down. All these violent carjackings have turned the city into a no-go area for many people.

area of influence

A realm, domain, or field over which a person, group, or business has direct control, influence, or clout. It refers to a military term for the geographical area in which a commander has direct military influence. As a literature professor, my primary obligation is to my classes; as head of this department, though, my area of influence extends to all students studying English. Please, he's only the head of the Benefits team. That's his area of influence, and he really needs to stop trying to tell the rest of us what to do! Fine, Keith, how about you stick to your area of influence and I'll stick to mine, OK?

be rooted to (some place)

To have an enduring connection, association, or affiliation with some place. Our family has been rooted to this city for generations. After spending so many years traveling from place to place, it feels good to finally be rooted to a country I can call home. I don't really want to be rooted to one place. I want to spend a year living in Toronto, a few years living in Vancouver, and just be free to move around, you know?

disaster area

1. A location where a natural disaster, such as an earthquake, flood, or storm, occurred. An area designated as such is often the recipient of government aid. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the president declared New Orleans a disaster area and allotted federal funding for the rescue and cleanup efforts. Visiting an utterly devastated disaster area like that really puts our petty gripes and problems in perspective, doesn't it? The Red Cross has been administering aid at the disaster area ever since the tornado.

2. By extension, an excessively messy or unclean space. After only a few weeks of living on his own, Adam's apartment looked like a disaster area because he never bothered to clean up after himself. You two need to clean up the playroom before dinner—it's a total disaster area in here, dress-up clothes and dolls everywhere. Melanie's bedroom is a disaster area because she tried on no fewer than 20 outfits before her date.

3. A situation, idea, or plan that is poorly planned or organized. The new economic plan that the senator proposed sounded like a complete disaster area. A: "Apparently, his brilliant idea is to date both girls at once." B: "Good grief. We all know that's a disaster area, right? Just a little bit of planning and forethought could have kept the event from devolving into a disaster area.

gray area

A concept or topic that is not clearly defined or that exists somewhere between two extreme positions. There's a lot of gray area regarding whether the use of the new surveillance technology is lawful. Love isn't always as clear as black and white, you know. You have to accept that there are many gray areas in relationships. A gray area in the decades-old law is being used by the company to justify its expansion without the approval of the city council.

kiss and cry area

An area in an ice skating rink where figure skaters rest while awaiting their results after a competitive performance. So named because competitors typically celebrate or commiserate (depending on their performance) with coaches, friends, or family in this location. After a terrific performance, Katy is heading to the kiss and cry area to wait with her coach while the judges tally their marks.

rooted to (some place)

Having an enduring connection, association, or affiliation with some place. Our family has been rooted to this city for generations. After spending so many years traveling from place to place, it feels good to finally be rooted to a country I can call home.

(a) gray area

Fig. an area of a subject or question that is difficult to put into a particular category because it is not clearly defined and may have connections or associations with more than one category. The responsibility for social studies in the college is a gray area. Several departments are involved. Publicity is a gray area in that firm. It is shared between the marketing and design divisions.

gray area

Indeterminate territory, undefined position, neither here nor there. For example, There's a large gray area between what is legal and what is not. This term, which uses gray in the sense of "neither black nor white" (or halfway between the two), dates only from the mid-1900s.

a grey area

COMMON If you call something a grey area, you mean that it is unclear. Note: `Grey' is usually spelled `gray' in American English. There are many grey areas in the law affecting stolen animals. Tabloid papers paint all sportsmen as heroes or villains. There is no grey area in between.

a grey area

an ill-defined situation or field not readily conforming to a category or to an existing set of rules.

In the 1960s, grey areas in British planning vocabulary referred to places that were not in as desperate a state as slums but which were in decline and in need of rebuilding.

2001 Rough Guide to Travel Health In theory, it should be a cinch to diagnose appendicitis, but in practice it's much more of a grey area.

a no-go area

an area which is dangerous or impossible to enter or to which entry is restricted or forbidden.

As a noun, no-go was first used in the late 19th century in the sense of ‘an impracticable situation’. Its use in this phrase, with the sense of ‘no entry’, is particularly associated with Northern Ireland in the 1970s.

1971 Guardian For journalists and others, the Bogside and Creggan estates are ‘no-go areas’, with the IRA in total effective control.

a diˈsaster area

1 (informal) a place or situation that has a lot of problems, is a failure, or is badly organized: The room was a disaster area (= very untidy), with stuff piled everywhere and nowhere to sit. ♢ The current system of taxation is a disaster area.
2 a place where a disaster has happened and which needs special help: After the floods, the whole region was declared a disaster area.

a ˌgrey ˈarea

an area of a subject or situation that is not clear or does not fit into a particular group and is therefore difficult to define or deal with: The question of police evidence in cases like this is a grey area. We will need to consult our lawyers about it.

a ˌno-ˈgo area

(especially British English) an area, especially in a city, which is dangerous for people to enter, or that the police or army do not enter, often because it is controlled by a violent group: Several parts of the city have become no-go areas for the police. ♢ (figurative) This subject is a definite no-go area (= we must not discuss it).