be all at sea

be all at sea

To be greatly puzzled, perplexed, or completely confused (about something or in some situation). I tried to do well in this class, but I've been all at sea since we started. Bill is all at sea because of this calculus problem. Can you help him? I'm all at sea in this new job of mine. I've never been responsible for these kind of contracts before.

See also: all, sea

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

at sea, to be/all

To be bewildered, to have lost one’s way. Presumably it reflects the idea of literally having lost one’s bearings while at sea. It was so used by Dickens and other nineteenth-century writers.

See also: all, to

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer