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English idiom

at a loss for words

Register · Neutral CEFR B2
Post

Figurative meaning

unable to express yourself because an emotional or confusing moment leaves you speechless

Word picture

Words are pictured as possessions that have gone missing just when a speaker needs to use them.

Example

“The unexpected generosity left me at a loss for words.”

Dictionary details

Component words

loss

Tags

Related idioms

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

happily ever after

CEFR B1

living a happy life forever, especially as the end of a story

Informal

take the wind out of someone's sails

CEFR B2

to suddenly weaken a person's confidence, excitement, or determination

Neutral

touch a nerve

CEFR B2

to provoke a strong reaction by raising a sensitive or painful subject

Neutral

perish the thought

CEFR C1

used as an emphatic rejection of an idea considered intolerable

Neutral

bad news

CEFR A2

an unpleasant piece of information; (informal) a person or thing likely to cause trouble

Informal

so far so good

CEFR A2

used to say that things have gone well up to now

Informal

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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