at loose ends
idiom
US
: not knowing what to do : not having anything in particular to do
With everyone on vacation she was at loose ends.
Drop by if you find yourself at loose ends this weekend.
Examples of at loose ends in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There are worse places that a rising star can find themselves than at loose ends in Europe in July.
—
Alessandra Codinha, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2024
As John’s stardom grows, Taupin, who writes alone and seldom visits the studio or goes on the road, finds himself at loose ends.
—Allison Stewart, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023
Michael Cera stars as Eric, a poker player who returns to his upstate-New York home town, becomes involved with its gambling scene, and drops in on his sisters—Rachel (Hannah Gross), who works at a local radio station, and Maggie (Sophia Lillis), a recent college dropout at loose ends.
—The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2023
One blazing afternoon in the summer of 1973, Rudy Calvo found himself at loose ends.
—Paula Mejía, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2023
In the early 1970s, Peter graduates from college and is at loose ends, and discouraged about his country and himself.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Jan. 2021
The actual origin of at loose ends is more prosaic.
—Melissa Mohr, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 July 2022
The most obvious beginning is back in the ’90s, when Stavin’ Chain, one of Capps’ early bands, broke up and left him at loose ends.
—al, 25 June 2020
Last March, as the pandemic swept the world and overburdened hospitals halted surgeries, including transplants, Morrison found himself at loose ends.
—Laura Parker, National Geographic, 16 Sep. 2020
Alessandra Codinha, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2024
As John’s stardom grows, Taupin, who writes alone and seldom visits the studio or goes on the road, finds himself at loose ends.
—Allison Stewart, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023
Michael Cera stars as Eric, a poker player who returns to his upstate-New York home town, becomes involved with its gambling scene, and drops in on his sisters—Rachel (Hannah Gross), who works at a local radio station, and Maggie (Sophia Lillis), a recent college dropout at loose ends.
—The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2023
One blazing afternoon in the summer of 1973, Rudy Calvo found himself at loose ends.
—Paula Mejía, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2023
In the early 1970s, Peter graduates from college and is at loose ends, and discouraged about his country and himself.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Jan. 2021
The actual origin of at loose ends is more prosaic.
—Melissa Mohr, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 July 2022
The most obvious beginning is back in the ’90s, when Stavin’ Chain, one of Capps’ early bands, broke up and left him at loose ends.
—al, 25 June 2020
Last March, as the pandemic swept the world and overburdened hospitals halted surgeries, including transplants, Morrison found himself at loose ends.
—Laura Parker, National Geographic, 16 Sep. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'at loose ends.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near at loose ends
Cite this Entry
“At loose ends.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20loose%20ends. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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