limbo

incertitude, situation indécise

Situation où rien n’est décidé ni n’avance, et où l’on ignore ce qui va se passer.

En anglais simple : A situation in which nothing is decided or moving forward, so you cannot know what will happen.

• My application is still in limbo.
• The canceled vote left the project in limbo.
• How long will they keep us in limbo?

Comment l'utiliser : in limbo (Our plans are in limbo until the funding arrives.); leave someone/something in limbo (The delay left the workers in limbo.)

Synonymes : uncertainty

Expressions courantes : in limbo, leave something in limbo, legal limbo

limbo

Danse où l’on passe sous une barre sans la toucher en se penchant en arrière.

En anglais simple : A dance in which people bend backward and move under a bar without touching it.

• We danced the limbo at the party.
• She won the limbo contest.
• The children laughed as the limbo bar got lower.

Expressions courantes : dance the limbo, limbo contest, limbo dancer

limbes

Dans certaines croyances chrétiennes, lieu hors du paradis et de l’enfer où se trouvent les âmes des morts innocents.

En anglais simple : In some Christian beliefs, a place for innocent dead souls outside heaven and hell.

• The text describes souls waiting in limbo.
• Some believers imagined unbaptized infants in limbo.
• The theologian questioned the idea of limbo.

Expressions courantes : souls in limbo, infants in limbo, belief in limbo

mortier Limbo

Arme installée sur un navire de guerre qui lance des charges explosives contre les sous-marins.

En anglais simple : A weapon on a warship that fires explosive charges at submarines.

• The ship carried a limbo mortar.
• The crew fired the limbo at a submerged target.
• This frigate’s limbo was mounted on the rear deck.

Expressions courantes : limbo mortar, limbo mounting, limbo system

danser le limbo

Danser en passant sous une barre sans la toucher, le corps penché en arrière.

En anglais simple : To dance by bending backward and moving under a bar without touching it.

• Can you limbo?
• They limboed to the lively music.
• We learned to limbo during our holiday.

Comment l'utiliser : limbo under something (She limboed under the bar without touching it.)

Expressions courantes : limbo under something, limbo at parties, learn to limbo

passer en se penchant en arrière

Passer sous quelque chose, généralement en penchant le corps en arrière.

En anglais simple : To move under something, usually by bending your body backward.

• She managed to limbo under the branch.
• We had to limbo beneath the low barrier.
• Can you limbo under that rope without touching it?

Comment l'utiliser : limbo under something (He limboed under the rope to reach the other side.)

Expressions courantes : limbo under something, limbo beneath something