Being a non-native English speaker can be, sometimes, funny when we come across what our teachers did not teach us. I'm talking about expressions or slangs.
Understandably, we can't learn everything in class. That's totally impossible. So, we need to expose to the language, if we need to have a better command in or even master it.
Using English in a country where the language is spoken can be challenging. We will always have opportunities to practice. Sometimes I think I have to start from zero because what I learnt in class was too standard to real life. See this.
One day I was asked by my supervisor, "Are you lost?" I was standing in front of her office that I had been many times already, how on earth I would get lost. I simply smiled to get away with it. I wasn't quite sure what she meant.
A Thai friend of mine was asked the similar question by a staff in a student hall. He was about to ask for a new lamp in his room. My friend, who was confused with this question coz the staff knows him very well, quickly replied "No. I stay here."
What happened to these English? Did they have amnesia and forget who we were?
Not really.
This is because my friend and I sticked to the first definition of lost as not knowing the direction so, we misunderstood their question. The meaning of "Are you lost? " is similar to "Are you ok?".
It's normally asked when someone looks like s/he needs some help.
Now, you're allowed to laugh!
So, next time someone asks you this question and you are okay, simply answer "I'm ok, thank you." Or if you really need help, let them know.
