lost one's head
Acted without thinking
To lose one's head is to lose composure or self-control, typically in a crisis or under pressure.
Someone who loses their head panics, acts rashly, or lets emotion override judgment: She lost her head and started screaming at the interviewer.
The phrase often appears in advice about staying calm: Keep your head—don't lose it.
- irrationalityAbsence of logic
- flew off the handleReacted with sudden rage
- hysteriaUncontrollable emotional excess
- lashing outAggressive sudden reaction
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
blunder · rashness · impulsiveness · knee-jerk reaction · frenzy · indecision · stumble · distress · heat of the moment · recklessness · misjudgment · freezing up · short-sightedness · overreaction · forgetfulness · agitation · distraction · absent-mindedness