be in limbo

1. To be in a spiritual state between heaven and hell after death. He was terrified that he would be in limbo if a priest didn't hear his final confession before he died. I did a lot of bad things when I was younger, so I doubt I'm going upstairs when I die. I'll be in limbo at best. Al's never cared much about religion, but now that he's sick, he's determined not to be in limbo when he dies.

2. To be in a precarious, indefinite, or suspended state or condition in which the outcome is uncertain. The officer looking after my case quit recently, so my application has been in limbo. We're kind of in limbo out here until the French authorities reopen the airports. A: "What's going on with this office?" B: "Things are still in limbo, sir. IT hasn't been able to come down and set up that new connection yet."