not know which way to turn

Meaning: To be so overwhelmed or confused that one does not know what to do.

Language: English

Literally: (Already vivid in English)

Example: “With three kids sick and the car broken down, she didn't know which way to turn.”

Category: Daily Life

Origin: The image is of someone lost at a crossroads. A form with "where to turn" is recorded as early as about 1400.

Other ways to say this

Slovak: Byť v koncoch — literally: To be at the ends
Italian: Non sapere che pesci pigliare — literally: To not know which fish to catch
French: ne plus savoir où donner de la tête — literally: to no longer know where to put one's head
English: at one's wits' end

watch one's step — To be careful how one behaves, to avoid trouble.
mend fences — To repair a damaged relationship after a disagreement.
play one's last card — To make a final attempt, using the last resource one has.
people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones — One should not criticize others for faults one has oneself.
take potshots at — To criticize someone in a casual, unfair or opportunistic way.
go underground — To go into hiding or begin operating in secret.

one's eyes pop out of one's head — To be astonished, often at something striking or desirable.
turn one's stomach — To make someone feel sick, physically or with disgust.
have eyes in the back of one's head — To notice everything, even what happens behind one's back.
have a lot on one's plate — To have many tasks or problems to deal with.
not believe one's ears — To be so surprised by what one hears that it seems impossible.
the knives are out — People are openly hostile and ready to attack someone, usually to bring them down.

The sixth sick sheikh's sixth sheep's sick. — Believed by Guinness to be among the hardest in English — 'six/sick/sheikh/sheep' blur in…
Betty Botter bought some butter, but she said the butter's bitter. — A 'b / t / tt' plosive drill that bounces between Betty, butter, and bitter.
She sells seashells by the seashore. — The definitive 's' versus 'sh' alternation — the tongue has to switch place of articulati…