lost without

lost without (someone or something)

Unable to function or understand things clearly without someone or something; helpless without someone or something. Ever since Mom died, I just feel like I'm lost without her. When it comes to repairing things, I'm usually lost without instructional videos. I'd be lost without my assistant—she's the only one who keeps my crazy life remotely organized.
See also: lost, without
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

lost without someone or something

unable to function without someone or something. I am just lost without you. The engineer is lost without his pocket computer.
See also: lost, without
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • (someone or something) promises well
  • be/have done with somebody/something
  • be in line with (someone or something)
  • better of
  • begin with
  • begin with (someone or something)
  • bird has flown, the
  • beware of
  • beware of (someone or something)
  • be rough on (someone or something)
References in classic literature
It was almost calm--at least, there was not wind enough to give us any prospect of escaping--so that when the galley came up to us, we thought ourselves lost without remedy, and had probably fallen into their hands had not a breeze sprung up just in the instant of danger, which carried us down the channel between the mainland and the isle of Babelmandel.
I suppose when the chains are struck off a prisoner he'd feel queer and lost without them for a while.
'My brother would have been quite lost without Amy,' he returned.
The portier also wrote down each day's journey and the nightly hotel on a piece of paper, and made our course so plain that we should never be able to get lost without high-priced outside help.
They express a shade of the art which would be lost without them.
He has defrauded justice, and opposed his king and lawful master, for he opposed his just commands; he has, I say, robbed the galleys of their feet, stirred up the Holy Brotherhood which for many years past has been quiet, and, lastly, has done a deed by which his soul may be lost without any gain to his body." Sancho had told the curate and the barber of the adventure of the galley slaves, which, so much to his glory, his master had achieved, and hence the curate in alluding to it made the most of it to see what would be said or done by Don Quixote; who changed colour at every word, not daring to say that it was he who had been the liberator of those worthy people.
'I should be lost without you, Eugene; but you may be right.'
A tinge of wildness in her aspect was derived from the black veil hanging like a rag against her cheek, and from the fixity of her black gaze where the light of the room was absorbed and lost without the trace of a single gleam.
In another case from last night, two tourists became lost without food, water and lighting near Sinyata Strela shelter.
Hailed as the voice of 2019, the 25-year-old singer/ songwriter has become one of last year's biggest success stories thanks to platinum-selling hit Lost Without You.
I've be lost without them, I'd lose my independence.
[USA], Apr 3 (ANI): "We are lost without you babe -- I have no words," Lauren London is grieving the death of her love Nipsey Hussle.
Freya is the young singer responsible for massive hit Lost Without You, which has so far peaked at number 9 on the official UK singles chart.
His wife Michaela, 31, said: "I feel so lost without him, he was my soulmate."
Such was the case for Lost Without You, the debut UK hit for 24-year-old London-born singer / songwriter Freya Ridings.