at loose ends

phrasal or at a loose end

1. : lacking a settled occupation or regular employment : uncertain of one's future course of action

feeling himself at loose ends — no job, no immediate prospects — Dixon Wecter

at a loose end for a time, he had been finally pitchforked into the car business — Robert Westerby

2. : not knowing what to do with oneself : unsettled

all day long he had been at loose ends — Hamilton Basso

being at a loose end that afternoon, he went to a movie

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at a loose end or at loose ends

1. With nothing to do

2. In a state of uncertainty or confusion as to one's course of action

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Main Entry: ↑end

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at loose ends (US) (or Brit at a loose end)

: 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.

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Main Entry: ↑loose end

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at a loose ˈend idiom

(BrE) (NAmE at loose ˈends) having nothing to do and not knowing what you want to do

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Come and see us, if you're at a loose end.

Main entry: ↑loose end_idiom