Decision & Control - Losing Control

Master English idioms that relate to losing control, like "out of hand" and "go to town".

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English idioms related to Decision & Control

out of hand

[phrase]

impossible or very hard to control

Ex: The negotiations between the two countries went out of hand when insults were exchanged and diplomatic talks broke down.

to have half a mind to

[phrase]

to say that one will do something even though they might not really intending to

Ex: He has a good mind to speak up at the meeting and challenge the proposed changes.

weak in the knees

[phrase]

feeling strong emotions, like fear or anxiety, in a way that makes it difficult for one to stand

Ex: The powerful performance by the talented musician left the audience weak in the knees, moved by the music.

to go to town

[phrase]

to engage in an activity or pursuit with great enthusiasm, energy, or extravagance, often to an excessive or intense degree

to [throw] {one's} (toys|rattle) out of the cot

to throw one's toys out of the cot

[phrase]

to lose one's temper and behave irrationally

Ex: The customer's unreasonable demands had the customer service representative feeling tempted to throw their toys out of the cot, but they remained composed and handled the situation professionally.

to put one's life in one's hands

[phrase]

to entrust someone with one's life

Ex: The child held tightly to the instructor's hand, putting his life in her hands as they crossed the busy street.

to come out swinging

[phrase]

to respond or react to something in a forceful manner

Ex: The employee faced criticism during the meeting but came out swinging, presenting a well-prepared argument to defend their ideas and contributions.

to get carried away

[phrase]

to be unable to control one's behavior due to a strong emotion such as anger, excitement, etc.

Ex: During the debate, he got carried away with his argument and spoke for far longer than he had intended.

off the rails

[phrase]

used to say that someone is behaving in a way that is wild, irrational, or unconventional

Ex: After getting fired, John was off the rails, lashing out at his former boss and coworkers.

to hit the panic button

[phrase]

to panic or respond with extreme fear or urgency in a situation, often without thinking logically or rationally

Ex: When the car suddenly swerved, the driver hit the panic button, gripping the steering wheel tightly and slamming on the brakes.

Decision & Control
Under Control	Out of Control	Losing Control	Being in Charge
Force & Obligation	Obedience	Choices & Decisions	Decisiveness
Indecisiveness	Dependency

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