at a loss
Idioms-
Below cost, as in The store was doing so badly that it was selling merchandise at a loss .
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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]
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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]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Vivak Shah, who runs three dental practices in Northamptonshire, continues to offer NHS treatment but says it operates at a loss.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026
Waning demand from buyers is in turn pressuring home prices down, and many homeowners in those regions are now selling at a loss, industry data indicate.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
“I’m at a loss of words to express the sorrow and the anger I have at the treatment you’ve been dealt by the system.”
From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2026
Despite this, he said the firm was operating at a loss because of start-up costs since April.
From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026
For the first time since they had been upstairs, Maya seemed at a loss for words.
From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
