at a loss

Idioms  

1. Below cost, as in The store was doing so badly that it was selling merchandise at a loss .

2. 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]

3. 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]

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Example Sentences

Some Weyerhaeuser rivals are operating at a loss and capacity is getting reduced in the industry as some plants close.

From Barron's

Car makers were required to produce increasing numbers of EVs, which they had to sell at a loss because consumer demand was weak.

From The Wall Street Journal

A significant portion of Bitcoin is held at a loss, leading to selling pressure between $96,000 and $100,000, hindering sustained recovery.

From Barron's

"We've sold a lot of that good to them directly at a loss," he said.

From Barron's

"I am running at a loss, the funding is less than I would normally get an hour," she says.

From BBC

Related Words

• baffled
• befuddled
• bewildered
• dazed
• disorganized
• distracted
• muddled
• perplexed
• perturbed
• puzzled