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Im trying to understand the idiomatic expression "at a loss." According to this source: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/at+a+loss it can either mean "Below cost" or "Perplexed; puzzled." However, I'm wondering if it can also be used to mean the same as the definitions of the word "loss."
Can one say:
"I'm at a loss of a pencil, can you help me find it?"
And would this have the same meaning as:
"I lost a pencil, can you help me find it?"
The two relevant expressions are:
I am/she is/they are at loss
vs.
sold at a loss
I will ignore the price at a loss expression here.
The meaning of I am at a loss as to where my pencil is is not the same as I lost my pencil. The former means I cannot reason my way as to where I have placed my pencil, emphasizing the thought process involved and the inability to draw a conclusion. The latter merely states a fact.
Thus, I can say
I lost my pencil on the train when I gave it to James.
In that case, I cannot claim to be "at a loss", because I am fully aware of how I lost it.
X), which means '(be) confused (about X), (be) unable to explain X', and the phrase at a loss, which refers not to perception, but to the Commercial Transaction Frame.
Jan 3, 2014 at 5:47
The expression "at a loss" is used to describe the noun's status that it follows. The car was sold at a loss means the sold price of the CAR is cheaper. And this phrase doesn't contain the meaning of being losing something.
so you can't say you are at a loss of a pencil
