Hung jury
Posted by Victoria S Dennis on February 23, 2009 at 19:44
In Reply to: Hung jury posted by ESC on February 23, 2009 at 14:36:
: : : Does anyone know where the term or phrase "hung jury" came from?
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: : I don't think this really qualifies as a phrase. "Hang" has a lot of (largely related) meanings. Here, "hung" means unresolved, in contention etc. Not it's most common meaning, but a perfectly valid one. (GC)
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: I couldn't find it in my references. Merriam Webster online, under hung, adjective, says "hung" has been used to mean unable to make a decision since 1848.
- and you can, of course, also have a "hung parliament". (VSD)