Sometimes, we don’t understand what someone is saying or doing. It might be a confusing story, a hard homework question, or even a joke we don’t get. When this happens, people use idioms to show they are puzzled or lost. An idiom is a phrase that doesn’t mean exactly what the words say. Instead, it has a special meaning that people learn by hearing it often.
Idioms about not understanding are used in everyday talking. They help us explain how we feel when something just doesn’t make sense. In this article, you’ll learn 40 idioms people use when they are confused or unsure. You will see what each one means and how to use them in sentences. This can help you understand others better and talk about your own feelings too.
Idioms for Not Understanding
1. Over your head
Meaning: Too hard to understand
For Example: That math problem went right over my head. / The teacher’s explanation was over my head.
Alternatively: I didn’t get it. / Too tricky for me.
2. Out in left field
Meaning: Confused or not understanding the situation
For Example: I felt out in left field during the science talk. / He was out in left field during the history lesson.
Alternatively: Completely lost / Didn’t follow along
3. Can’t make heads or tails of it
Meaning: Something is very confusing
For Example: I can’t make heads or tails of this map. / She couldn’t make heads or tails of the instructions.
Alternatively: Makes no sense / Totally puzzled
4. Lost me
Meaning: Stopped understanding what someone was saying
For Example: You lost me when you started talking about robots. / He lost me halfway through the story.
Alternatively: I don’t get it / That confused me
5. In a fog
Meaning: Feeling confused or unsure
For Example: I was in a fog during the math test. / She was in a fog when they gave the directions.
Alternatively: Very unsure / Can’t think clearly
6. A deer in headlights
Meaning: Looking confused and not knowing what to do
For Example: I was like a deer in headlights when the teacher called on me. / He looked like a deer in headlights during the game.
Alternatively: Frozen / Totally stuck
7. Not following
Meaning: Not understanding what’s being said
For Example: I’m not following this video. / She said too much, and I’m not following anymore.
Alternatively: Lost / Not keeping up
8. Beats me
Meaning: I don’t know
For Example: Beats me how that trick works. / “Why is he mad?” “Beats me.”
Alternatively: I have no idea / Not sure
9. Drawing a blank
Meaning: Can’t remember or understand something
For Example: I’m drawing a blank on that question. / She drew a blank during the quiz.
Alternatively: Forgot / Can’t think of it
10. That’s Greek to me
Meaning: Something is too hard to understand
For Example: All those big science words are Greek to me. / This book is Greek to me.
Alternatively: Makes no sense / Too tricky
11. Mixed up
Meaning: Confused about something
For Example: I’m all mixed up about the homework. / He got mixed up with the directions.
Alternatively: Not clear / Jumbled
12. Out of the loop
Meaning: Not knowing what’s going on
For Example: I’ve been out of the loop since I missed school. / She’s out of the loop about the project.
Alternatively: Not informed / Left out
13. On another planet
Meaning: Not paying attention or not understanding
For Example: He’s on another planet today. / I felt like I was on another planet during the lesson.
Alternatively: Spaced out / Not with us
14. Missed the point
Meaning: Didn’t understand the main idea
For Example: I think you missed the point of the story. / He missed the point of the joke.
Alternatively: Didn’t get it / Confused
15. A little fuzzy
Meaning: Not clear or hard to understand
For Example: The rules are a little fuzzy to me. / That explanation is fuzzy.
Alternatively: Not clear / A bit confusing
16. Off track
Meaning: Not understanding or going the wrong way
For Example: I think I’m off track with this math problem. / She got off track with the story.
Alternatively: Confused / Going the wrong way
17. All over the place
Meaning: Not clear or too messy to understand
For Example: Your ideas are all over the place. / My thoughts are all over the place today.
Alternatively: Disorganized / Messy thinking
18. Got me stumped
Meaning: Don’t know the answer or can’t figure it out
For Example: This riddle’s got me stumped. / That puzzle really stumped me.
Alternatively: No clue / Can’t figure it out
19. Like speaking another language
Meaning: Something is very hard to understand
For Example: This computer stuff is like speaking another language. / The instructions were like another language.
Alternatively: Makes no sense / Super hard
20. Out of my depth
Meaning: In a situation that’s too hard to understand
For Example: I felt out of my depth during the debate. / He’s out of his depth with this project.
Alternatively: Not ready for this / Over my head
21. In the dark
Meaning: Not knowing or understanding something
For Example: I’m in the dark about what’s going on. / She was in the dark about the homework.
Alternatively: Don’t know / Left out
22. Not clicking
Meaning: Not making sense yet
For Example: The new lesson isn’t clicking with me. / This just isn’t clicking.
Alternatively: Not getting it / Still confused
23. Overthinking it
Meaning: Making something more confusing by thinking too much
For Example: I think you’re overthinking it. / I overthought it and got more confused.
Alternatively: Made it harder / Got stuck thinking
24. My brain shut down
Meaning: Feeling too confused to think
For Example: My brain shut down during the test. / I was so confused my brain just stopped.
Alternatively: Brain freeze / Can’t think
25. Scratching my head
Meaning: Feeling confused
For Example: I’m scratching my head over this question. / That answer left me scratching my head.
Alternatively: Totally puzzled / Not sure
26. Not sinking in
Meaning: Not understanding even after hearing it
For Example: The lesson isn’t sinking in yet. / What he said didn’t sink in.
Alternatively: Didn’t get it / Still confused
27. Doesn’t add up
Meaning: Something doesn’t make sense
For Example: That story doesn’t add up. / The math answer doesn’t add up.
Alternatively: Doesn’t make sense / Something’s off
28. Brain fog
Meaning: Hard to think clearly or understand
For Example: I had brain fog during the quiz. / I’m stuck in brain fog right now.
Alternatively: Can’t focus / Thinking is blurry
29. Words are jumbled
Meaning: Can’t understand what someone is saying
For Example: His words were jumbled, and I got confused. / The speaker’s words sounded all jumbled.
Alternatively: Mixed up / Too fast to follow
30. Not making the connection
Meaning: Not understanding how things fit together
For Example: I’m not making the connection between the two ideas. / She didn’t make the connection in the lesson.
Alternatively: Didn’t link it / Missing the point
31. Head spinning
Meaning: Feeling overwhelmed and confused
For Example: My head’s spinning from all this information. / Her head spun after that big talk.
Alternatively: Overloaded / Too much at once
32. Talked in circles
Meaning: Someone explained something in a confusing way
For Example: He talked in circles, and I didn’t understand. / The directions went in circles.
Alternatively: Went round and round / Confused me more
33. Didn’t catch that
Meaning: Didn’t hear or understand
For Example: Sorry, I didn’t catch that. / I missed what you said.
Alternatively: Can you say it again? / Didn’t hear it right
34. Mind went blank
Meaning: Forgot everything or didn’t know what to say
For Example: My mind went blank during the spelling test. / Her mind went blank when called on.
Alternatively: Forgot / Couldn’t think
35. Zoning out
Meaning: Not paying attention and missing information
For Example: I zoned out during the movie. / She was zoning out in class.
Alternatively: Spaced out / Not listening
36. Muddled up
Meaning: All mixed up and confused
For Example: The rules got muddled up in my head. / He muddled up the facts.
Alternatively: Confused / All jumbled
37. Too much to take in
Meaning: A lot of information at once, hard to understand
For Example: The whole talk was too much to take in. / That lesson was a lot to take in.
Alternatively: Overloaded / Lots to think about
38. Eyes glazed over
Meaning: Lost interest or stopped understanding
For Example: His eyes glazed over during the long talk. / My eyes glazed over at all the numbers.
Alternatively: Zoned out / Gave up listening
39. Talking in riddles
Meaning: Speaking in a way that’s hard to understand
For Example: He talks in riddles sometimes. / That teacher was talking in riddles.
Alternatively: Didn’t make sense / Too tricky
40. Like a puzzle with missing pieces
Meaning: Something is confusing because it’s not complete
For Example: The story was like a puzzle with missing pieces. / That plan feels like a puzzle that’s not done.
Alternatively: Not all there / Something is missing
True/False Quiz – Idioms for Not Understanding
- If someone says “It went over my head,” they understood everything perfectly.
True / False - “In a fog” means you are confused or unsure what’s happening.
True / False - Saying “Beats me” means you totally understand something.
True / False - “Like a deer in headlights” means you feel ready and confident.
True / False - If you’re “drawing a blank,” you forgot or can’t figure something out.
True / False - “Out of the loop” means you know all the latest updates.
True / False - When someone says, “It’s not clicking,” they mean they’re starting to get it.
True / False - “Zoning out” means you’re paying very close attention.
True / False - Saying “My brain shut down” means you’re tired and can’t think clearly.
True / False - If something is “like a puzzle with missing pieces,” it means it’s easy and clear.
True / False
Answer Key
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
- False
- False
- False
- True
- False
Scoring Guide
- 10 Correct Answers: Idioms Master!
- 7–9 Correct Answers: You really get Idioms nice work!
- 4–6 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about Idioms together!
Conclusion
Sometimes, we don’t understand things right away. Idioms can help us explain that feeling. These phrases show others when we’re puzzled or lost.
Learning idioms for not understanding can help you talk about tricky moments in class or in life. The more you use them, the easier it will be to share how you feel and ask for help when you need it.
