What does lost in translation mean?

You use the phrase lost in translation to explain that a misunderstanding has occurred because something has not been accurately translated into your language, especially because it was translated too literally.

 

Additionally, it can be used metaphorically to explain misinterpreted messages between people who have the same first language.

 

Lost in translation in a sentence example
Something must have gotten lost in translation. I spoke to our contact in Japan, and they don’t want the new model; they want the old one.

I think that point got lost in translation when I explained it to Maria; I’ll give her a call to clarify what I meant.

 

On a related note, if you can’t decide if loss or lost is the correct word, remember that “loss” always functions as a noun.

Why not use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to ensure that you’re using an appropriate verb with the phrase “lost in translation”?