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
Snell lost the plot in the sixth.
—
Andy McCullough, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
As the disease tore through the population, the government lost the plot.
—Yangyang Cheng, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
Unlike the legend in Shakespeare’s Hamlet — whose rejection by the Prince of Denmark sparks her unraveling — this fair-haired singing socialite will not be losing the plot.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
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
In another episode, starring a live streamer named Destiny, a woman in a MAGA hat attempts to regain control of an argument she’s long lost the plot of.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 8 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
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Andy McCullough, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
As the disease tore through the population, the government lost the plot.
—Yangyang Cheng, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
Unlike the legend in Shakespeare’s Hamlet — whose rejection by the Prince of Denmark sparks her unraveling — this fair-haired singing socialite will not be losing the plot.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
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
In another episode, starring a live streamer named Destiny, a woman in a MAGA hat attempts to regain control of an argument she’s long lost the plot of.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 8 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
Cite this Entry
“Lose the plot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lose%20the%20plot. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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