Meanings
- idiomaticinformalFailing to stand out or receive attention as a result of a larger-scale change or transformation.
In the occasional highly publicized case, then, the best interests of the child may be lost in the shuffle.
1992, Michael G. Kalogerakis, Handbook of psychiatric practice in the juvenile court: the Workgroup on Psychiatric Practice in the Juvenile Court of the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Pub, page 243 more examples
We have allowed ourselves to be "lost in the shuffle" of American priorities in the '70s, but we should never lose sight of ourselves and our goals as our priorities.
1975 July, Gil Scott-Heron, “Lost in the Shuffle”, in Ebony, volume 30, number 9, Johnson Publishing Company, page 28We get lost in the shuffle, and in the end we don't even know that we have needs - much less know what these needs might be.
1987, Robert Subby, Lost in the shuffle: the co-dependent reality, HCI, page 39That's the way things happen in AIDS Action. The Board makes a very clear mandate and then whatever the executive director and senior staff feel should happen is what actually happens...and the Board action gets lost in the shuffle.
1988 December 4, Judy Haris, Laurie Livingston, “Going Public”, in Gay Community News, volume 16, number 21, page 9
Cite this entry
lost in the shuffle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lost%20in%20the%20shuffle
“lost in the shuffle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lost%20in%20the%20shuffle. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lost in the shuffle,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lost%20in%20the%20shuffle.
Source: lost in the shuffle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.