I stood there with my mouth open because I was at a loss to understand what happened.
Which of the following defines the phrase " at a loss" as used in the sentence above?

Question

I stood there with my mouth open because I was at a loss to understand what happened. 
Which of the following defines the phrase " at a loss" as used in the sentence above?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The sentence gives us a clue to the meaning by telling us that the speaker stood there with his/her mouth open, which usually suggests surprise or confusion. From the context of the target sentence, we can infer that "at a loss" means "confused and not knowing what to do."
No longer having something is incorrect. One of the meanings of loss is "no longer having something." (e.g. Job losses reached record levels last year.) However, from the context of the target sentence, we can infer that the phrase is not used that way here.
Not knowing one's way is incorrect. When placed in the context of the target sentence, this answer choice does not make sense.
Sadness from the death of a loved one is incorrect. One of the meanings of loss is "sadness from the death of a loved one." (e.g. We felt a tremendous sense of loss with Joan's death.) However, from the context of the target sentence, we can infer that the word is not used that way here.

I Stood There with My Mouth Open Because I Was