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THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE

At your wits’ end

Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.

01 / UNDERSTAND

Meaning in plain English

So worried, frustrated or confused that you do not know what to do next.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

The expression in a sentence

  1. I was at my wits’ end after the printer failed for the fifth time.

03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Quick idiom quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the expression?

Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?

So worried, frustrated or confused that you do not know what to do next.
Show the answer

At your wits’ end — So worried, frustrated or confused that you do not know what to do next.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “At your wits’ end” about your own life.

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

So worried, frustrated or confused that you do not know what to do next.

Compare: I was at my wits’ end after the printer failed for the fifth time.

Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

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More ways to understand and use it

When to use it

Use it conversationally when repeated efforts have failed and you feel unable to solve a problem.

More examples in context

  • She is at her wits’ end trying to find the missing files.
  • We were at our wits’ end until a neighbour offered to help.

Usage note

Change your to match the person: my, her or our. Wits is plural, with the apostrophe after the s: wits’ end.

A short conversation

A: Have you found a way to recover the document?
B: No. I am at my wits’ end after trying everything I know.
A: Let us ask the support team.

One more practice question

How does someone at their wits’ end feel?

A. Frustrated and unsure what else to try.
B. Relaxed because every problem is solved.

Check your answer

A. The expression describes distress and a lack of further ideas.

Related lessons

Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.

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