at a loss for words

1.慣用語B1

釋義

to feel so surprised, shocked, or deeply moved that you cannot find the right words to express yourself

例句

Mei-Lin was at a loss for words when her colleagues threw her a surprise party.

be + at a loss for words + when [unexpected event]

The lawyer stood at a loss for words after the judge read the final decision.

after [event] follows the idiom to show cause

同義詞

speechless
more common and can be used in more situations; 'at a loss for words' is a set phrase
dumbfounded
stronger and more formal; suggests shock rather than deep emotion
tongue-tied
informal; often suggests shyness or nervousness rather than surprise

反義詞

eloquent
describes someone who speaks fluently and effectively

文法句型

be + at a loss for words

用法筆記

Always used after a form of the verb 'be' (is, am, are, was, were). The cause of the speechlessness is typically introduced by a when-, after-, or as-clause. The idiom can be intensified by adding adverbs such as 'completely' or 'quite' before 'at'.

常見錯誤

❌I am at loss for words.

✅I am at a loss for words.

💡the article 'a' must be included before 'loss'.

❌He was at a loss of words.

✅He was at a loss for words.

💡the correct preposition is 'for', not 'of'.