at a loss; don't know what to do; flustered
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
at a loss; don't know what to do; in a panic
formalA formal idiom used to describe someone who is flustered and unable to cope with a situation. Often used in both written and spoken formal contexts.
Tā他
dì第
yī一
cì次
shàng上
tái台
yǎn演
jiǎng讲
，
jǐn紧
zhāng张
de得
shǒu手
zú足
wú无
cuò措
。
It was his first time giving a speech on stage, and he was so nervous that he was completely at a loss.
Miàn面
duì对
tū突
rú如
qí其
lái来
de的
zhì质
wèn问
，
tā他
yī一
shí时
shǒu手
zú足
wú无
cuò措
。
Faced with the sudden questioning, he was momentarily at a loss.
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Zhè这
me么
duō多
xuǎn选
zé择
bǎi摆
zài在
miàn面
qián前
，
tā她
gǎn感
dào到
shǒu手
zú足
wú无
cuò措
。
With so many choices before her, she felt overwhelmed and didn't know what to do.