How do you use "At Wit's End" in a sentence?

I'm at my wit's end with this computer—nothing works! The parents were at their wit's end with their teenager's behaviour. After three hours of troubleshooting, I was at my wit's end. She's at her wit's end trying to balance work and childcare.

At Wit's End

Q: What does "At Wit's End" mean?

Completely frustrated and out of ideas To be at your wit's end means you've exhausted all your mental resources trying to solve a problem or cope with a situation. Your 'wit' (intelligence, ingenuity) has reached its limit—there's nothing left to try. It's the feeling of complete mental exhaustion combined with frustration.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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Meaning: Completely frustrated and out of ideas

完全沮丧，束手无策

Completamente frustrado y sin ideas

完全に行き詰まり、アイデアが尽きた

완전히 막다른 골목에 몰려 방법이 없는

To be at your wit's end means you've exhausted all your mental resources trying to solve a problem or cope with a situation. Your 'wit' (intelligence, ingenuity) has reached its limit—there's nothing left to try. It's the feeling of complete mental exhaustion combined with frustration.

'at your wit's end'意味着你在尝试解决问题或应对情况时已经耗尽了所有的精神资源。你的'wit'（智慧、才智）已经达到极限——没有什么可以再尝试的了。这是一种完全精神疲惫与沮丧相结合的感觉。

Estar 'at your wit's end' significa que has agotado todos tus recursos mentales tratando de resolver un problema o lidiar con una situación. Tu 'wit' (inteligencia, ingenio) ha llegado a su límite—no queda nada que intentar. Es la sensación de agotamiento mental completo combinado con frustración.

「at your wit's end」は、問題を解決したり状況に対処しようとして、精神的な資源をすべて使い果たしたことを意味する。「wit」（知性、創意工夫）が限界に達し、試すことが何も残っていない。完全な精神的疲労とフラストレーションが組み合わさった感覚。

'At your wit's end'란 문제를 해결하거나 상황에 대처하기 위한 모든 정신적 자원을 소진했다는 뜻입니다. '재치(wit, 지능이나 재주)'가 한계에 도달하여 더 이상 시도할 것이 남아 있지 않은 상태입니다. 완전한 정신적 탈진과 좌절감이 결합된 감정을 표현합니다.

Literal meaning: Having reached the end of your mental capacity

Examples

I'm at my wit's end with this computer—nothing works!
这台电脑让我束手无策——什么都不行！
Estoy al límite con este ordenador—¡nada funciona!
このパソコンにはもうお手上げ—何も動かない！
이 컴퓨터에는 정말 손을 들겠다—아무것도 안 돼!
The parents were at their wit's end with their teenager's behaviour.
父母对青少年的行为束手无策
Los padres estaban desesperados con el comportamiento de su adolescente
両親は10代の子供の行動にお手上げだった
부모님은 10대 자녀의 행동에 진절머리가 났다.
After three hours of troubleshooting, I was at my wit's end.
排查了三个小时后，我已经筋疲力尽
Después de tres horas de solución de problemas, estaba desesperado
3時間のトラブルシューティングの後、私は途方に暮れていた
세 시간이나 문제를 해결하려다 나는 완전히 막막했다.
She's at her wit's end trying to balance work and childcare.
她在努力平衡工作和育儿方面已经束手无策
Está desesperada tratando de equilibrar trabajo y cuidado de niños
彼女は仕事と育児の両立に途方に暮れている
그녀는 일과 육아를 양립하느라 속수무책이다.

Pronunciation

/æt wɪts end/

Usage Guide

Context: problem-solving, parenting, frustration

Tone: exasperated, defeated

✓ Do Say

I'm at my wit's end.
我已经束手无策了
Estoy al límite de mi paciencia
もうお手上げだ
나는 정말 어찌할 바를 모르겠다.
She was at her wit's end.
她已经走投无路了
Estaba desesperada
彼女は途方に暮れていた
그녀는 완전히 막막한 상태였다.
We were at our wits' end.
我们已经想不出办法了
Estábamos desesperados
私たちはもうどうしていいかわからなかった
우리는 속수무책이었다.

✗ Don't Say

Don't confuse 'wit's' (singular) with 'wits'' (plural)—both are used
不要混淆'wit's'（单数）和'wits''（复数）——两者都有使用
No confundas 'wit's' (singular) con 'wits'' (plural)—ambos se usan
「wit's」（単数）と「wits'」（複数）を混同しない—両方使われる
'wit's'(단수)와 'wits''(복수)를 혼동하지 말 것—둘 다 사용됨
Strong expression—save for genuine frustration
强烈表达——留给真正沮丧的时候
Expresión fuerte—guárdala para frustración genuina
強い表現—本当のフラストレーションのときに使う
강한 표현—진짜 좌절감을 느낄 때 사용할 것

Common Mistakes

Apostrophe placement varies: 'wit's end' or 'wits' end' both accepted
It's 'AT' wit's end, not 'ON' wit's end

Origin & History

This phrase appears in the King James Bible (Psalm 107:27) describing sailors in a storm: 'They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.' The biblical usage established the phrase as describing a state of helpless confusion.

Etymology: From Middle English 'wit' (wisdom, intelligence) reaching its endpoint

First recorded: King James Bible, 1611

Cultural Context

Era: Biblical origins, still common

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: King James Bible; Common in parenting forums and advice columns

Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking countries.

Variations

At my wit's endAt wits' endDrove to wit's end