perdre le nord

French

Etymology

Compare Spanish perder el norte.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɛʁ.dʁə l(ə) nɔʁ/

• Audio:

  (file)

Verb

perdre le nord

1. (informal, figuratively) to lose one's bearings, to be all at sea

   Synonym: perdre la boussole

Usage notes

Chiefly used in negative sentences: ne pas perdre le nord (“not to lose sight of one's goals, not to miss an occasion to progress towards one's goals”). Especially said of people who don't lose sight of their interests in financial matters, and are attentive with money.

See also

• garder le sens des réalités
• avoir de la suite dans les idées