expression, i-adjective
can't follow the conversation; don't get what someone is saying
Used when the speaker cannot grasp the point or direction of a discussion, often because it is unclear, disjointed, or lacks context.
彼の説明はあちこち飛んで、話が見えなかった。
His explanation jumped all over the place, and I couldn't follow what he was saying.
会議の途中から参加したので、話が見えない。
I joined the meeting partway through, so I can't follow the discussion.
A set phrase combining 話 (talk, story) with 見えない (cannot see), literally 'the talk is not visible', figuratively meaning the speaker cannot grasp the thread or point of the conversation.