After all they had done, the system was to be considered a total loss?

He was at a total loss as to what to do or to say.

He said the total loss on the show would be about $500,000.

He was at a total loss, never having considered the question.

Clearly, the church was going to be a total loss.

Better than nothing, or a total loss in a down market, he said.

He is at a total loss as to how this could have happened.

But we made a lot of money so it wasn't a total loss.

This wasn't going to be a total loss after all.

At least we can see that it isn't a total loss for him.