Jesus Christ

[0119] Lose it / Lost it

🎲 Blow a gasket
English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

Can mean several things, usually related to losing control. Context is crucial:

  • 1. Lose one's temper: To become suddenly and uncontrollably angry.
  • 2. Become mentally unstable: To lose one's sanity or composure, often under pressure; to have a breakdown.
  • 3. Burst out laughing uncontrollably: To find something so funny that one cannot stop laughing.
  • 4. (Less common) Forget something important: I had the answer, but I lost it.

Origin

  • The 'it' vaguely refers to one's self-control, temper, sanity, composure, or sometimes memory/train of thought.
  • The phrase implies this abstract 'it' has been misplaced or has disappeared, resulting in a lack of control.
  • Became common in the mid-to-late 20th century.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • (Anger) Flip out, Freak out, Blow up, Hit the roof/Hit the ceiling, Go ballistic, Fly off the handle, Snap, Lose one's temper, See red.
  • (Mental State) Go crazy/Go mad, Have a breakdown, Come unglued, Crack up, Lose one's mind, Go off the deep end.
  • (Laughter) Crack up, Burst out laughing, Be in stitches, Die laughing, Laugh uncontrollably, Bust a gut (Informal).

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • (Anger): Flip out, Freak out, Snap, Wig out (Dated), Go off (AAVE influence), Blow a fuse, Blow one's top.
  • (Laughter): Crack up, Die laughing, Be rolling (from ROFL), Piss oneself laughing (UK, vulgar), Bust a gut.
  • (Mental State): Crack up, Go nuts/Go bonkers, Freak out, Lose one's marbles, Go mental (UK/Aus).

Vulgar/Emphatic:

  • (Anger): Go ape shit, Lose one's shit, Go fucking ballistic.
  • (Mental State): Lose one's fucking mind.

Milder:

  • (Anger): Get very upset/Get extremely angry, Lose one's temper/Lose control.
  • (Laughter): Laugh hysterically/Laugh uncontrollably.
  • (Mental State): Feel overwhelmed, Reach a breaking point, Have a nervous breakdown (More clinical).

Situational Appropriateness

  • Informal.
  • Suitable for describing strong emotional reactions (anger, laughter) among friends, family, or familiar colleagues.
  • Use with sensitivity when referring to mental state; lose it can sound dismissive or minimize serious mental health issues. Avoid using it lightly in this context.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • The multiple meanings are the key challenge. Listeners *must* rely on context (and often tone) to know if someone lost their temper, their sanity, or just couldn't stop laughing.

Examples

  • (Anger) When he saw the damage to his car, he completely lost it and started yelling.
  • (Mental State) She'd been working 18-hour days for weeks and felt like she was about to lose it.
  • (Laughter) The way the cat slipped was so unexpected, we all just lost it.
  • (Memory) Wait, what was I saying? I lost it.

Dialogue

(Laughter context)

Anna: Did you see that video of the dog trying to catch its tail?

Mark: Yes! Oh my god, I totally lost it. I was crying laughing for like five minutes.

Anna: Me too! It was just too funny.

Social Media Examples

  • Tweet (Anger): Dealing with tech support for an hour, finally lost it on the phone. Not proud, but SO frustrated. 😤 #customerservicefail
  • Facebook Post (Laughter): Rewatching old episodes of 'Friends' and totally lost it during the 'Pivot!' scene. Still gold! 😂
  • Forum Post (Mental State): Feeling completely overwhelmed by exams. Legit feel like I'm going to lose it. Anyone else? #studentlife #stress

Response Patterns

  • (Anger) Concern (Oh no, really?), caution (Is he okay now?), disapproval (That's not good.), inquiry (What set him off?).
  • (Mental State) Sympathy (That sounds so stressful.), offering support (Is there anything I can do?), concern (Does she need help?).
  • (Laughter) Shared amusement (Me too!, It was hilarious!), asking for details (What happened? What was so funny?).

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

  • People usually ask for details: Why did they lose it? (Anger/Laughter), What triggered it? (Anger/Mental State), What happened next?.
  • If someone fears they might lose it (mental state), they might express a need for a break or help.
  • If someone lost it laughing, they might try to describe the funny event.

Conversation Starter

  • No. Describes a reaction or state, not an opener.

Intonation

  • Varies significantly depending on the meaning:
  • (Anger) Described with a serious, possibly shocked or concerned tone. He totally LOST it.
  • (Mental State) Described with concern, worry, or seriousness. I'm worried she's going to lose it.
  • (Laughter) Described with amusement, often accompanied by laughter. We were LOSING it!

Generation Differences

  • Common across most generations.
  • Slang alternatives like freak out, flip out, or snap might be slightly more common among younger generations for the anger meaning.

Regional Variations

  • Widely used in most English-speaking regions.
Jesus Christ
🎲 Blow a gasket