Idiom: I've now lost the thread

English as a Second Language English Teacher Explanations (ESL Tests)
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English Idioms and Expressions, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #11 [color=blue]“Losing It”, question 9

I’ve tried very hard indeed to understand your argument step by step but I must confess I’ve now lost the thread.

(a) I now can’t follow the answer
(b) I now can’t follow the point
(c) I now can’t follow the reason
(d) I now can’t follow the reasoning

English Idioms and Expressions, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #11 [color=blue]“Losing It”, answer 9

I’ve tried very hard indeed to understand your argument step by step but I must confess I now can’t follow the reasoning.

Correct answer: (d) I now can’t follow the reasoning

Your answer was: [color=red]incorrect
I’ve tried very hard indeed to understand your argument step by step but I must confess I now can’t follow the point.
[size=200]_________________________[/size]

I must confess too I now can’t follow the reason why b) is incorrect or not the best.

haihao

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Hi,

The idea of ‘lose the thread’ suggests that you are not following the way an argument is proceeding. We use thread on these forums, as you know, which refers to a series of contributions one after the other or they form part of a process, The word ‘point’ would not cover this as it involves only one matter but reasoning is appropriate as it describes a process.

A

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Thanks again, sir, and I am convinced and satisfied.

haihao