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.
Major athletics events frequently operate at a loss when costs including security, marshalling, appearance fees and broadcast infrastructure are factored in, particularly if there is no sponsor.
From BBC • Jul. 6, 2026
"When I was laid off... I was at a loss for a while," Zhang, 34, told AFP at the academy in Hunan province, handing a fistful of lightly charred kebabs to an instructor for review.
From Barron's • Jul. 2, 2026
When Tinfow found himself at a loss for words, she grinned.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 14, 2026
Puth paid $1.9 million for his so-called bachelor pad, which he then sold at a loss less than three years later, offloading the dwelling for $1.8 million in May 2018.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026
In fact, all the people in the crowded little shack—all except the baby, who was asleep—were at a loss for words.
From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman
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.
