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.
If only a few students enrolled, I’d still teach at a loss until I gained momentum.
From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026
"But I must say, I'm rarely at a loss for words or without a clear solution. We'll have to feel our way through this new situation first."
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 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
Despite this, he said the firm was operating at a loss because of start-up costs since April.
From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026
But the old man only shrugged his shoulders, at a loss.
From "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke
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.
