English Reference
Idiom idiom

lose one's wits


To become irrational; lose one's mind or sense of reason.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

“He started to lose his wits during the long, difficult exam.”

CONTEXTUAL

“When the computer system crashed for the third time, the manager began to lose his wits.”

COMPLEX

“Faced with the relentless pressure of the deadline, the exhausted architect felt as though he might lose his wits entirely.”


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    abound in one's own sense

    To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.

  2. 02

    ace up one's sleeve

    A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.

  3. 03

    act one's age

    To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.

  4. 04

    act one's age, not one's shoe size

    Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).

  5. 05

    afraid of one's own shadow

    Exceptionally timid.

  6. 06

    air one's dirty laundry in public

    To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.

  7. 07

    air one's dirty linen in public

    Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.

  8. 08

    albatross around one's neck

    A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.

Last updated August 10, 2026