lose your marbles
Meaning
To go crazy or become mentally confused; to lose self-control or good judgment.
Origin
From the idea that a person’s “marbles” represent their mental faculties; if you lose them, you lose your mind. Likely influenced by the older phrase “lose one’s buttons” and the popularity of the game of marbles in the late 19th–early 20th century.
Notes
Informal and often humorous/exaggerated for being overwhelmed or acting irrational. Can be insensitive if used about real mental illness.
Examples
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After working three nights in a row, I felt like I was starting to lose my marbles.
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When he heard the price of the repair, he nearly lost his marbles.
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If you keep changing the schedule at the last minute, I’m going to lose my marbles.
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Everyone thought she’d lost her marbles when she quit her job to travel the world, but it worked out.
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I must be losing my marbles—I walked into the kitchen and forgot why I came in.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used as “lose your marbles” (or “lost/has lost his marbles”). Determiner changes with person (my/your/his). Often intensified: “completely lose your marbles.”
Synonyms
- go crazy
- lose your mind
- flip out
- go off the rails
- go nuts
Antonyms
- keep your head
- keep your wits about you
- stay sane
- keep it together