not know which end is up
Completely lost mentally
To not know which end is up is to be completely disoriented or confused, unable to make sense of a situation: After three back-to-back meetings, I didn't know which end was up.
The phrase suggests someone so overwhelmed or bewildered they've lost all sense of direction or priority.
- confusedUnable to understand
- disorientedLacking sense of direction
- flounderingStruggling clumsily, failing
- muddledIn a confused state
- mixed upDisordered or confused
dazed · lost · all at sea · discombobulated · turned around · thrown for a loop · adrift · bewildered · befuddled · in a fog · perplexed · upside down · flummoxed · scattered · topsy-turvy · baffled · puzzled · at a loss
not know which end is upcalm and collected
Emotionally steady, unflustered
clearheaded · level-headed · have one's wits about one · composed · lucid
not know which end is upknow what one is doing
Have mastery in something
competent · have one's act together · self-possessed · poised · in control
which, known, knowing, knowingly, unknown, knowledge, knowledgeable, unknowing, ending