50 Idioms for Not Understanding With Meaning & Sentences
Idioms for Not Understanding
1. In the dark
Meaning: Unaware or uninformed about something.
In a Sentence: I’m in the dark about the changes in the schedule. / He was kept in the dark about the surprise party.
Other Ways to Say: “Unaware.”, “Clueless.”
2. Out of the loop
Meaning: Not understanding or aware of what’s happening.
In a Sentence: I was out of the loop about the school trip plans. / She felt out of the loop when her friends talked about the new movie.
Other Ways to Say: “I’m confused.”, “I didn’t know about that.”
3. Over my head
Meaning: Too complex or difficult to understand.
In a Sentence: The math lesson went right over my head. / That scientific article was over my head.
Other Ways to Say: “Too hard for me.”, “I don’t get it.”
4. It’s all Greek to me
Meaning: Something that is completely confusing or hard to understand.
In a Sentence: The instructions for building the toy were all Greek to me. / When they talked about computer coding, it was all Greek to me.
Other Ways to Say: “I don’t understand any of this.”, “This is like another language to me.”
5. Not have a clue
Meaning: To have no idea or understanding.
In a Sentence: I don’t have a clue what he meant by that. / She didn’t have a clue about the exam topics.
Other Ways to Say: “No idea.”, “Totally lost.”
6. Miss the point
Meaning: To fail to understand the main idea.
In a Sentence: He completely missed the point of the story. / I think you’re missing the point of what I’m saying.
Other Ways to Say: “Misunderstand.”, “Didn’t get it.”
7. Lost on me
Meaning: Not understood or appreciated.
In a Sentence: The joke was lost on me. / The sarcasm was completely lost on him.
Other Ways to Say: “I didn’t get it.”, “It didn’t make sense.”
8. At sea
Meaning: Feeling confused or not knowing what to do.
In a Sentence: I was at sea during the whole presentation. / New students often feel at sea at first.
Other Ways to Say: “Bewildered.”, “Confused.”
9. Draw a blank
Meaning: To fail to remember or understand something.
In a Sentence: I drew a blank when asked about the topic. / She drew a blank during the test.
Other Ways to Say: “Can’t recall.”, “No idea.”
10. Go right past someone
Meaning: Not be understood or noticed.
In a Sentence: That concept went right past me. / His explanation just flew right past her.
Other Ways to Say: “Didn’t register.”, “Went unnoticed.”
11. Can’t make heads or tails of it
Meaning: Unable to understand something at all.
In a Sentence: I can’t make heads or tails of this map. / He couldn’t make heads or tails of her handwriting.
Other Ways to Say: “Completely confused.”, “Totally lost.”
12. In one ear and out the other
Meaning: Something heard but not understood or remembered.
In a Sentence: His instructions went in one ear and out the other. / It’s like the lesson just went in one ear and out the other.
Other Ways to Say: “Didn’t sink in.”, “Forgot instantly.”
13. Foggy about it
Meaning: Vague or unclear understanding.
In a Sentence: I’m foggy about the new rules. / She felt foggy after the lecture.
Other Ways to Say: “Not clear.”, “Uncertain.”
14. Doesn’t ring a bell
Meaning: Not familiar or doesn’t sound known.
In a Sentence: His name doesn’t ring a bell. / That song title doesn’t ring a bell.
Other Ways to Say: “I don’t recall.”, “Unfamiliar.”
15. In a muddle
Meaning: In a confused state.
In a Sentence: My thoughts were in a muddle after the discussion. / She was in a muddle about what to do next.
Other Ways to Say: “Mentally jumbled.”, “Unclear.”
16. Out of depth
Meaning: In a situation too difficult to understand.
In a Sentence: He was out of his depth in the legal discussion. / I felt out of my depth in that advanced class.
Other Ways to Say: “Overwhelmed.”, “Unqualified.”
17. Blanked out
Meaning: Temporarily forgot or couldn’t recall.
In a Sentence: I blanked out during the quiz. / He completely blanked out when asked the question.
Other Ways to Say: “Forgot.”, “Mind went blank.”
18. Like trying to read a foreign language
Meaning: Completely incomprehensible.
In a Sentence: The medical report was like trying to read a foreign language. / That code is like trying to read a foreign language.
Other Ways to Say: “Unintelligible.”, “Very confusing.”
19. Talk over my head
Meaning: Speaking in a way too complex to understand.
In a Sentence: The professor talked over my head the entire lecture. / Don’t talk over the kids’ heads.
Other Ways to Say: “Too advanced.”, “Too complicated.”
20. A deer in headlights
Meaning: Looking confused or stunned.
In a Sentence: He stood like a deer in headlights when asked a question. / She looked like a deer in headlights during the interview.
Other Ways to Say: “Frozen with confusion.”, “Not knowing how to react.”
21. Foggy memory
Meaning: Not clearly remembering something.
In a Sentence: I have a foggy memory of that lesson. / His explanation triggered my foggy memory of the topic.
Other Ways to Say: Can’t recall well, Vague recollection
22. Go over your head
Meaning: Too difficult to understand.
In a Sentence: The math problem went over my head. / That science theory just went over my head.
Other Ways to Say: Too complex, Didn’t get it
23. Not catch the drift
Meaning: Not understanding the meaning or point.
In a Sentence: I didn’t catch his drift in the conversation. / She kept talking, but I couldn’t catch the drift.
Other Ways to Say: Didn’t follow, Missed the point
24. In one ear and out the other
Meaning: Hearing something but quickly forgetting or not understanding it.
In a Sentence: His instructions went in one ear and out the other. / It’s like everything the teacher says goes in one ear and out the other.
Other Ways to Say: Didn’t retain, Ignored or forgot quickly
25. Can’t make heads or tails of it
Meaning: Can’t understand it at all.
In a Sentence: I can’t make heads or tails of this puzzle. / She couldn’t make heads or tails of the new app.
Other Ways to Say: Totally confused, No idea what it means
26. Mind went blank
Meaning: Suddenly unable to think or remember.
In a Sentence: During the test, my mind went blank. / I tried to recall the answer, but my mind went blank.
Other Ways to Say: Drew a blank, Forgot everything
27. Not computing
Meaning: Failing to understand or grasp something.
In a Sentence: That logic is not computing for me. / The math just isn’t computing.
Other Ways to Say: Doesn’t make sense, Not clicking
28. Blank stare
Meaning: A confused or uncomprehending look.
In a Sentence: He gave me a blank stare when I explained the rules. / Her blank stare showed she didn’t get it.
Other Ways to Say: Confused look, Lost expression
29. At sea
Meaning: Feeling confused or not knowing what to do.
In a Sentence: I felt at sea in the new job. / He’s completely at sea with this subject.
Other Ways to Say: Lost, Uncertain
30. Clueless
Meaning: Having no idea or understanding about something.
In a Sentence: I’m clueless about how this machine works. / She was clueless during the discussion.
Other Ways to Say: No idea, Completely unaware
31. Talking in riddles
Meaning: Speaking in a confusing or unclear way.
In a Sentence: He was talking in riddles about his plan. / I don’t get her—she talks in riddles.
Other Ways to Say: Speaking confusingly, Not clear
32. Hit a mental block
Meaning: Temporarily unable to understand or think clearly.
In a Sentence: I hit a mental block during the exam. / She had a mental block while trying to solve the equation.
Other Ways to Say: Stuck, Unable to think straight
33. Not sink in
Meaning: Failing to understand or realize something.
In a Sentence: The news didn’t sink in right away. / It took time for the lesson to sink in.
Other Ways to Say: Didn’t register, Didn’t absorb
34. Like herding cats
Meaning: Trying to understand or manage something confusing and disorganized.
In a Sentence: Explaining the plan was like herding cats. / The kids were talking so fast—it was like herding cats.
Other Ways to Say: Chaos, Impossible to follow
35. Lost the thread
Meaning: Lost track of the topic or logic.
In a Sentence: I lost the thread of the story halfway through. / He talks so fast, I lose the thread.
Other Ways to Say: Lost focus, Lost the point
36. Numb to it
Meaning: So overwhelmed or confused that nothing makes sense.
In a Sentence: I’m numb to this complex theory now. / She’s numb to all the new rules.
Other Ways to Say: Overloaded, Mentally blocked
37. Confused as a chameleon in a bag of Skittles
Meaning: Extremely confused.
In a Sentence: I was confused as a chameleon in a bag of Skittles during the meeting. / The directions left me confused as a chameleon in a bag of Skittles.
Other Ways to Say: Very confused, Totally puzzled
38. Not following
Meaning: Unable to understand what someone is saying.
In a Sentence: I’m not following what you mean. / He kept talking, but I wasn’t following.
Other Ways to Say: Not grasping, Didn’t get that
39. Like a deer in headlights
Meaning: Frozen with confusion or shock.
In a Sentence: I was like a deer in headlights during the oral exam. / His sudden question made me feel like a deer in headlights.
Other Ways to Say: Stunned, Caught off guard
40. Not on the same page
Meaning: Not understanding or agreeing with others.
In a Sentence: We’re not on the same page about this project. / I think they’re not on the same page about the rules.
Other Ways to Say: Misaligned, Disconnected
41. Beats me
Meaning: I have no idea.
In a Sentence: Beats me how that machine works. / Beats me why she said that.
Other Ways to Say: No clue, I don’t know
42. All mixed up
Meaning: Confused or uncertain.
In a Sentence: I’m all mixed up about the new schedule. / She looked all mixed up after the explanation.
Other Ways to Say: Unclear, Confounded
43. Crossed wires
Meaning: Miscommunication or misunderstanding.
In a Sentence: I think we had our wires crossed about the meeting time. / There were crossed wires during the phone call.
Other Ways to Say: Misunderstood, Confused signals
44. Not getting the picture
Meaning: Failing to understand the situation clearly.
In a Sentence: You’re not getting the picture here. / He still doesn’t get the picture of what’s happening.
Other Ways to Say: Not seeing the whole story, Missing the point
45. Stuck in a fog
Meaning: Mentally unclear or confused.
In a Sentence: I’m stuck in a fog this morning. / His explanation left me stuck in a fog.
Other Ways to Say: Mentally lost, Not sharp
46. Talking past each other
Meaning: Not understanding each other during a conversation.
In a Sentence: They were talking past each other the whole meeting. / We kept talking, but it felt like we were talking past each other.
Other Ways to Say: Miscommunicating, Not connecting
47. Overwhelmed by info
Meaning: Too much information to process or understand.
In a Sentence: I’m overwhelmed by all the data. / The lesson overwhelmed me with info.
Other Ways to Say: Info overload, Can’t take it in
48. Eyes glazed over
Meaning: Looking bored or confused while not understanding.
In a Sentence: His eyes glazed over during the lecture. / I saw her eyes glaze over when I started explaining.
Other Ways to Say: Zoned out, Lost attention
49. Puzzle pieces not fitting
Meaning: The details don’t make sense together.
In a Sentence: This theory is like puzzle pieces not fitting. / Her story felt like puzzle pieces that don’t match.
Other Ways to Say: Doesn’t connect, Something’s missing
50. Doesn’t ring a bell
Meaning: Not remembering or recognizing something.
In a Sentence: That name doesn’t ring a bell. / I saw her face, but it didn’t ring a bell.
Other Ways to Say: Don’t recall, No recognition
