at a loss for words

IPA/atə lˈɒs fɔː wˈɜːdz/
IPA/æɾə lˈɔs fɔːɹ wˈɜːdz/

at a loss for words — 慣用語

1. to feel so surprised, shocked, or deeply moved that you cannot find the right wo

1.慣用語B1
釋義

說不出話

因驚訝或感動而一時無法開口

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.

美玲在同事為她舉辦驚喜派對時，一時說不出話來。

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

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

那位律師在法官宣讀最終判決後，驚訝得說不出話來。

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'.