lost

be lost for words

to be unable to speak because you are so surprised. I was so amazed at what she'd said I found myself completely lost for words.

See also: word

Get lost! (very informal)

something that you say when you are annoyed with someone or you want someone to go away. Oh, get lost! I'm not in the mood for your jokes.

like a lost soul

if someone is walking around a place like a lost soul, they are walking slowly without direction or purpose in a way that makes them look sad and lost. I found him wandering aimlessly around the hall like a lost soul.

See also: like, soul

a lost cause

something or someone that has no chance of success. I tried to stop the kids dropping their clothes on the floor, but finally decided it was a lost cause.

See also: cause

lost in the mists of time

if something is lost in the mists of time, everyone has forgotten it because it happened such a long time ago. The true significance of these symbols has become lost in the mists of time.

See also: time

lost in the shuffle (American & Australian)

if something or someone gets lost in the shuffle, they do not get the attention that they deserve. Refugee children in the big camps just get lost in the shuffle and are sometimes left without food.

See also: shuffle

make up for lost time

to spend a lot of time doing something because you did not have the opportunity to do it previously. I didn't travel much as a young adult but I'm certainly making up for lost time now.

See also: time

no/little love lost between someone

if there is no love lost between two people, they do not like each other. There's no love lost between those two. They could never work together.

See also: between, little, love

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get lost

go away. Those kids told the new girl to get lost.

Usage notes: sometimes used as an order: Get lost, Gary. We don't want you coming with us.

lost for words

unable to think of something to say. Chris was lost for words at Kathy's incredible rudeness.

Usage notes: usually said because something has surprised you

See also: word

lost in the shuffle

ignored or forgotten. In conflicts between doctors and insurance companies, patients' needs may be lost in the shuffle.

Usage notes: often used in the form get lost in the shuffle: Maybe your name got lost in the shuffle when we typed the list.

Etymology: based on the idea of losing a playing card when the cards are shuffled (= moved around)

See also: shuffle

lost in thought

not aware of what is happening around you because you are thinking about something else. I didn't answer right away because I was lost in thought.

See also: thought

lost on you

not understood by you. Civilization developed because ideas and technology were exchanged between cultures – a truth that is lost on many of us.

Usage notes: often used in the form not lost on someone clearly understood by someone: Increased airport security is now a fact of life, something not lost on passengers who put up with long delays.

lost without someone/something

unable to work in the usual way because something is not available. I'm lost without my cell phone. I'd be lost without you, honey.

See also: without

make up for lost time

to do as much as possible that you were not able to do before. Ms Wesley published her first novel when she was 70 and quickly made up for lost time by writing nine more.

See also: time

no love lost

no feelings of respect, admiration, or affection. They had a curious relationship – there was no love lost there.

Usage notes: often used with between: There's no love lost between Morris and his publisher.

See also: love