pattern

Certeza y Posibilidad - Uncertainty

Explora modismos en inglés sobre la incertidumbre con ejemplos como 'tener segundas intenciones' y 'demasiado reñido para decidir'.

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English idioms related to Certainty & Possibility
too close to call

almost impossible to predict who will win and who will lose, particularly in a competition

demasiado reñido para saberlo, empate técnico

demasiado reñido para saberlo, empate técnico

Ex: The election is too close to call tonight. 
a question mark [hang] over {sth}

a feeling of uncertainty and doubt about something

haber dudas sobre algo, estar en el aire

haber dudas sobre algo, estar en el aire

Ex: A question mark still hangs over the future of the project. 
to [set|put] the record straight

to correct a false story, misunderstanding, or incorrect belief by giving the true facts

aclarar las cosas, poner las cosas en claro

aclarar las cosas, poner las cosas en claro

Ex: I need to set the record straight: I never approved that deal. 
you never know
you never know
[Oración]

used to say that even if the happening of something is unlikely, it is not impossible

nunca se sabe, quién sabe

nunca se sabe, quién sabe

Ex: Apply for the job; you never know, they might call you. 
gray area
gray area
[Sustantivo]

a situation that is hard to define or categorize and therefore unclear

zona indefinida, terreno ambiguo

zona indefinida, terreno ambiguo

Ex: The new rule leaves too many gray areas for teachers. 
to [have] second thoughts

to start doubting a decision and begin to wonder whether it is the right or best thing to do

tener dudas, replanteárselo

tener dudas, replanteárselo

Ex: She had second thoughts about moving abroad after talking to her family. 
(shot|stab) in the dark

an attempt to guess or do something without having sufficient information or knowing the consequences

palo de ciego, intento a ciegas

palo de ciego, intento a ciegas

Ex: I didn't know the answer, so my response was just a shot in the dark. 
in the balance

used to refer to something that is in an uncertain state

en el aire, pendiente de un hilo

en el aire, pendiente de un hilo

Ex: The future of the company is still in the balance. 
to [be] (anyone's|anybody's) (guess|call)

to be difficult or almost impossible to predict the outcome of a situation or event

imposible de predecir, quién sabe

imposible de predecir, quién sabe

Ex: Who will win the election is anyone's guess. 
to [take] {sth} with a grain of salt

to only accept a part of something or not take it seriously at all

tomarlo con reservas, no tomarlo al pie de la letra

tomarlo con reservas, no tomarlo al pie de la letra

Ex: Take his promises with a grain of salt; he often changes his mind. 
wild card
wild card
[Sustantivo]

a person or thing with uncertain or uncontrollable qualities or capabilities

factor imprevisible, incógnita

factor imprevisible, incógnita

Ex: The new candidate is a wild card in this election. 
rope of sand

a thing that is nowhere as good or strong as it appears

fortaleza aparente, apariencia engañosa

fortaleza aparente, apariencia engañosa

Ex: Their alliance looked powerful, but it turned out to be a rope of sand. 
under a cloud of suspicion

viewed with doubt or mistrust, even if not proven

bajo sospecha, en tela de juicio

bajo sospecha, en tela de juicio

Ex: He left the company under a cloud of suspicion. 
how long is a piece of string

used to say that it is impossible to answer a question concerning the size, length, or amount of something

no se puede saber, depende

no se puede saber, depende

Ex: How long will the renovation take? How long is a piece of string? 
give or take

used to say that the amount mentioned might be a little more or less than the exact amount

más o menos, con algo de margen

más o menos, con algo de margen

Ex: The trip will take three hours, give or take. 
neck and neck

used to describe a situation where no clear advantage or resolution has emerged, leaving the final result uncertain

sin desenlace claro, el resultado sigue abierto

sin desenlace claro, el resultado sigue abierto

Ex: The negotiations are neck and neck, with no clear agreement in sight. 
neither fish nor fowl

used to describe a person or thing that is hard to describe or classify

difícil de clasificar, ni una cosa ni otra

difícil de clasificar, ni una cosa ni otra

Ex: The new device is neither fish nor fowl: not quite a phone and not quite a tablet. 
dog's chance
dog's chance
[Sustantivo]

a very little or no chance of success

posibilidad casi nula, sin apenas esperanza

posibilidad casi nula, sin apenas esperanza

Ex: He doesn't have a dog's chance of winning the case. 
to [twist|swing|hang] in the wind

(of a person) to be in a state of uncertainty or confusion

quedar en la incertidumbre, quedar colgado

quedar en la incertidumbre, quedar colgado

Ex: After the manager resigned, the whole team was left twisting in the wind. 
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