all at sea

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

all dressed up and nowhere to go

Ready for an event or occasion that has since been canceled. Jimmy canceled our date tonight, so I'm all dressed up and nowhere to go. A: "Why is Jill is all dressed up and nowhere to go?" B: "Oh, because the friend she was supposed to meet got sick." A: "Apparently, there was a power outage at the venue, so everything's been canceled." B: "Aha, so that's why you're all dressed up with nowhere to go?"

See also: all, and, dress, go, nowhere, to, up

completely dotty

1. To become eccentric, odd, or mentally unbalanced. Jackson went completely dotty after spending a month by himself in his cabin. After months of sleep deprivation with a newborn, I'm starting to feel completely dotty. You can't tell people you want to start a business selling bees as pets—they'll think you're completely dotty!

2. To become forgetful or absent-minded, especially due to senility or old age in general. Grandpa's gone completely dotty lately—I don't know if he can take care of himself anymore. Just because we are in our 70s doesn't mean we are completely dotty! You'd best treat your children well, for it is they who will look after you when you're in your completely dotty.

3. To become very excited or enthusiastic (about something). I've never understood that pop star's popularity, but kids just go completely dotty over her music. Everyone I know is completely dotty over the new Roboformers movie—they say the special effects are really incredible. I can't say I'm completely dotty about having to clean the kitchen after you cook—you always make such a mess!

all dressed up and nowhere to go

and all dressed up with nowhere to go completely ready for something

that has been postponed or has failed to materialize. (May be literal or figurative.) Tom: I just heard that your company is closed today. Fred: Gee, I'm all dressed up and nowhere to go. The space shot was cancelled, so all the astronauts are all dressed up with nowhere to go.

See also: all, and, dress, go, nowhere, to, up

*silent as the dead

and *silent as the grave

completely silent. (Has ominous connotations because of the reference to death. Usually used to promise someone that you will be silent and therefore not betray a secret. *Also: as ~.) I knew something was wrong as soon as I entered the classroom; everyone was silent as the dead. Jessica is as silent as the grave on the subject of her first marriage. If you tell me what Katy said about me, I promise to be as silent as the grave.

all at sea

BRITISH or

at sea

COMMON If someone is all at sea or is at sea, they are very confused by a situation and do not understand it. While he may be all at sea on the economy, his changes have brought the West real and lasting political benefits. This was a massive success for a party that, two years previously, was all at sea. Note: The reference here is to a ship or a boat that has got lost.

all dressed up and (or with) nowhere (or no place) to go

prepared for action but having nothing to do or unable to be proceeded with. informal

The expression is an adaptation of the title of a song ( 1913 ) by Silvio Hein and Benjamin Burt , ‘When You're All Dressed Up and No Place to Go’.

2004 Time Because Jeffords' departure put control of Senate committees in Democratic hands, President Bush's proposed National Missile Defense (NMD) is now all dressed up with nowhere to go.

See also: all, and, dress, go, nowhere, to, up

all, completely, etc. at ˈsea

confused; not organized: We’re still completely at sea trying to understand the new regulations.