lost on one

lost on (one)

Unappreciated or not understood, as of an idea. That whole lecture was lost on me. What was he even talking about? The joke was lost on the audience, unfortunately. I'll have to rewrite it to be less subtle. The human cost necessary to make these first-world comforts is a hard truth that is lost on most consumers.

See also: lost, on

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

lost on one

Have no effect or influence on one, as in Ned's attempts at humor were lost on Meg, or David's kindness was not lost on his aunt. This expression uses lost in the sense of "wasted." [c. 1600] Also see you've lost me.

See also: lost, on, one

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.