he was at a loss for words
1at a loss for words — phrase not knowing what to say, especially because you are very surprised or shocked He hesitated and briefly appeared at a loss for words. Thesaurus: feeling surprised or shockedsynonym Main entry: loss * * * at a loss for words chiefly US :… …
2at a loss for words — adjective having nothing to say; stunned to the point of speechlessness She was at a loss for words when she saw the number of people who had come to grieve for her husband. Syn: lost for words …
3at a loss for words — unable to think of a reply or something to say When he asked why I wanted the vase, I was at a loss for words …
4at a loss for words — unable to think of something to say. If I was alone with her, I d feel at a loss for words. Usage notes: usually this happens because you are surprised …
5lost for words — phrase to be so surprised, shocked etc that you do not know what to say Thesaurus: feeling surprised or shockedsynonym Main entry: lost * * * lost for words chiefly Brit : unable to think of anything to say I was so surprised to see her that I… …
6lost for words — adjective speechless because of surprise, or shock. When I saw the gift, I was lost for words. Syn: at a loss for words …
7loss — [ lɔs ] noun *** ▸ 1 no longer having something ▸ 2 having less than before ▸ 3 failure to win race etc. ▸ 4 money lost ▸ 5 death of someone ▸ 6 sadness from death/loss ▸ 7 disadvantage from loss ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) count or uncount the state of not …
8loss — W1S2 [lɔs US lo:s] n [: Old English; Origin: los destruction ] 1.) [U and C] the fact of no longer having something, or of having less of it than you used to have, or the process by which this happens loss of ▪ The court awarded Ms Dixon £7,000… …
9loss */*/*/ — UK [lɒs] / US [lɔs] noun Word forms loss : singular loss plural losses 1) [countable/uncountable] the state of no longer having something because it has been taken from you or destroyed It was an ancient car anyway, so it was no great loss. job… …
10loss — noun 1 NO LONGER HAVING STH (C, U) the fact of no longer having something you used to have: Job losses were common in the 1980s. (+ of): a temporary loss of memory | weight/blood etc loss | rapid hair loss 2 MONEY (C, U) money that has been lost… …
