Fig. wasted on someone; not valued or appreciated by someone. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) My jokes are lost on him. He is too literal.The humor of the situation was lost on Mary. She was too upset to see it.
not understood by you Civilization developed because ideas and technology were exchanged between cultures – a truth that is lost on many of us.
Usage notes: often used in the form not lost on someone(clearly understood by someone): Increased airport security is now a fact of life, something not lost on passengers who put up with long delays.