at a loss

I’m at a loss for words.
あきれてものが言えない。言葉を失う。何て言ったらよいのか分からない。

チャット爺に訊いてみました。

The phrase “at a loss” can be used in different contexts, often to express a state of confusion, not knowing what to do, or suffering a deficit in business or an emotional situation. Here are some examples:

1. Confusion or Perplexity:
   • After the lecture on quantum mechanics, I was completely at a loss; the concepts were just too complex for me to grasp.
   • She stared at the broken machinery, at a loss for how to fix it.
2. Business or Financial Loss:
   • The company has been operating at a loss for the past two quarters and might have to consider layoffs.
   • Due to a significant downturn in sales, the store was selling merchandise at a loss just to clear out inventory.
3. Emotional State:
   • When he heard the news of his friend’s sudden passing, he was at a loss for words.
   • Feeling at a loss after the breakup, she spent days trying to understand what went wrong in the relationship.
4. Lack of Direction or Not Knowing How to Proceed:
   • The team was at a loss after their leader resigned; nobody was sure how to move forward with the project.
   • After all her plans fell through, she was at a loss about what to do next with her career.