at a loss for words
at a loss for words — idiom
1. to feel so surprised, shocked, or deeply moved that you cannot find the right wo
to feel so surprised, shocked, or deeply moved that you cannot find the right words to express yourself
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
Aisha was at a loss for words when she saw the damage to her shop.
when [event] causes speechless shock
The old man was at a loss for words seeing his granddaughter's wedding photo.
Even the experienced teacher was at a loss for words when asked about the change.
structure: Even + [role] + at a loss for words
- 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
- eloquent
describes someone who speaks fluently and effectively
Grammar Patterns
be + at a loss for words
Usage Note
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'.