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.
That guaranteed the teams with revenue, with brokers benefiting from a markup for popular games but taking the risk that tickets to less popular games would sell at a loss, or not at all.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
Selling at a loss to chase higher rates can result in lower returns, said Andrew Van Alstyne, a financial planner in Waxhaw, N.C.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
If only a few students enrolled, I’d still teach at a loss until I gained momentum.
From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026
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
“Well,” Harry stalled, at a loss for what to say next.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
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.
