At one’s wit’s end
“At one’s wit’s end” is an idiom that expresses a feeling of being extremely frustrated, confused, or at a loss about what to do in a particular situation. When someone says they are “at their wit’s end,” they are indicating that they have reached the limits of their patience, understanding, or problem-solving abilities. This idiom suggests a state of mental or emotional exhaustion where all possible solutions or ideas have been exhausted, and the person feels helpless or overwhelmed.
The phrase "wit" In this context refers to intelligence, cleverness, or mental faculties. So, being “at one’s wit’s end” implies that a person has used up all their mental resources and is struggling to find a way out of a difficult or perplexing situation. It conveys a sense of desperation or hopelessness, often when facing a challenging problem or dealing with a persistent issue that seems insurmountable. People commonly use this idiom to describe feeling completely stuck or unable to find a resolution to a problem. It conveys a sense of being mentally drained and unable to come up with any more ideas or strategies to address the issue at hand. Understanding this idiom can help convey a sense of deep frustration and helplessness in various contexts where someone is grappling with a difficult situation beyond their current abilities to cope or solve.