lose the plot

phrase

British, informal
: to become confused by or unable to deal with a situation
She was so nervous she thought she was going to lose the plot.

Examples of lose the plot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The larger context is that the President seems to be losing the plot. John Cassidy, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 The Fable model can hold more context, reason longer and push through a refactor without losing the plot that often causes problems for so many other models. Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1984, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lose the plot was in 1984

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lose the plot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lose%20the%20plot. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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