at a loss

Idioms  

1. Below cost, as in The store was doing so badly that it was selling merchandise at a loss .

2. Puzzled, perplexed, in a state of uncertainty, as in When his letters were returned unopened, John was at a loss as to what to do next . This usage was originally applied to hounds who had lost the scent or track of their prey. [Mid-1600s]

3. at a loss for words . Unable or uncertain as to what to say. For example, Father's tirade left us all at a loss for words . [Late 1600s]

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Example Sentences

“Now as a Dubai resident, I am scared and at a loss for words.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Coal plants, which can’t easily shut down and restart, either operate at a loss during those hours or ramp down to levels that are inefficient and cause mechanical wear and tear, Dorris said.

From The Wall Street Journal

The ruling Labour Party is at a loss over how to respond.

From The Wall Street Journal

Adjusted earnings came in at a loss of $3.08 a share.

From The Wall Street Journal

"I'm at a loss and ache on behalf of our former president," one woman told the BBC.

From BBC

Related Words

• baffled
• befuddled
• bewildered
• dazed
• disorganized
• distracted
• muddled
• perplexed
• perturbed
• puzzled