lose the plot
idiomatic 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
Our verdict: Bridgeman’s has lost the plot, big-time.
—
Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 22 Aug. 2025
Netanyahu has ‘lost the plot’ The tensions are a sign of the growing gulf between Netanyahu and his Western allies – many of whom have become increasingly critical of Israel’s war in Gaza, which has destroyed vast swathes of the territory and led to a worsening humanitarian crisis there.
—Pierre Bairin, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025
But at times, RFK Jr. has seemed to lose the plot on sugar.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 18 July 2025
But somewhere along the way, the front office has totally lost the plot.
—Tony Blengino, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Review: ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 finds its horrors but loses the plot
When does the next episode of the 'The Last of Us' Season 2 come out?
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
Here’s where the episode starts to lose the plot a little for me.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025
There is a growing bipartisan consensus that American innovation has lost the plot.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2025
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Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 22 Aug. 2025
Netanyahu has ‘lost the plot’ The tensions are a sign of the growing gulf between Netanyahu and his Western allies – many of whom have become increasingly critical of Israel’s war in Gaza, which has destroyed vast swathes of the territory and led to a worsening humanitarian crisis there.
—Pierre Bairin, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025
But at times, RFK Jr. has seemed to lose the plot on sugar.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 18 July 2025
But somewhere along the way, the front office has totally lost the plot.
—Tony Blengino, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Review: ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 finds its horrors but loses the plot
When does the next episode of the 'The Last of Us' Season 2 come out?
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
Here’s where the episode starts to lose the plot a little for me.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025
There is a growing bipartisan consensus that American innovation has lost the plot.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lose the plot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lose%20the%20plot. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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