Expression: lost on him

[Haihao]

English Idioms and Expressions, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #11 "Losing It", question 6

I'm afraid that kind of humour is totally lost on him so you'll have to explain it more simply.

(a) without effect
(b) without reason
(c) without sense
(d) without impression

English Idioms and Expressions, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #11 "Losing It", answer 6

I'm afraid that kind of humour is totally without effect him so you'll have to explain it more simply.

Correct answer: (a) without effect

Your answer was: incorrect
I'm afraid that kind of humour is totally without sense him so you'll have to explain it more simply.
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Ignoring the superfluous 'him' in the sentence, I had thought both a) and c) were possible depending on the 'thinking thread' of the speaker before I chose c). Since c) is incorrect, can I see it's because 'be lost on sb.' should be strictly under the meaning of ineffective?

haihao

[Yankee]

Hi Haihao

The expression 'be lost on' means 'have no effect or influence on'. This is often due to a lack of comprehension. In the test sentence the man didn't react to the humor problably because he didn't understand it. And if you don't understand a joke, it will not have the intended effect on you.

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Alan]

Hi,

You can also use the verb 'lose' in an active sense when you want to explain to someone that you don't follow an argument as in: I'm sorry, you'll have to explain that again - you've lost me.

A
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story A funny thing happened...

[Haihao]

Thank you very much indeed, Amy and Alan. I guess I fully understand now.

haihao

[Pamela]

One more example with the expression "be lost on", Haihao .
Ex. Martin gave Joe a gentle hint but it was lost on (upon) him.