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Meaning & use

lose your mind

phrase·Everydayinformal

Last updated

UK/ˌluːz jɔː ˈmaɪnd/
US/ˌluːz jɔːr ˈmaɪnd/

Meanings

  1. phraseidiominformalfigurative

    To become so upset, stressed or excited that you can no longer behave sensibly.

    Grammar: The possessive matches the subject: I will lose my mind; he lost his mind.

    Patterns

    • lose your mind over something
    • lose your mind waiting

    I'll lose my mind if this traffic does not move soon.

    The fans lost their minds when the band walked on stage.

    She nearly lost her mind trying to fix the printer.

  2. phraseidiomold-fashioned

    To become mentally ill or unable to think clearly, as in old stories or serious illness.

    Grammar: More literal and serious; can sound insensitive if used casually.

    Patterns

    • lose your mind with grief

    In the story, the king loses his mind after his family dies.

    Some people fear they will lose their mind as they grow older.

Word forms

third person singularloses your mind
past tenselost your mind
-ing formlosing your mind

Common combinations

about to lose your mind
I'm about to lose my mind with all these emails.
nearly lose your mind
He nearly lost his mind waiting for the results.
lose your mind over something
Kids lose their minds over a new toy.
feel like you're losing your mind
After a week without sleep I felt like I was losing my mind.
lose your mind with worry
She was losing her mind with worry.

Synonyms and how they differ

go crazy
Go crazy is the same in tone but slightly more casual and can describe excitement as well as stress.
freak out
Freak out suggests a sudden panic reaction, while lose your mind can describe a slower build-up.
go insane
Go insane is stronger and is closer to the literal, serious meaning.
blow a fuse
Blow a fuse suggests a sudden burst of anger, while lose your mind is broader.

Opposites

keep your coolstay calm

Word family

mind noun
the part of you that thinks and feels
mindless adjective
done without thought or care
lose verb
to no longer have something

Commonly confused: lose your mind or change your mind?

lose your mind vs change your mind

Change your mind means to make a different decision, and has nothing to do with going mad.

Practice

If I have to listen to that alarm any longer, I'm going to ___.

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