Decision & Control - Out of Control

Explore English idioms that relate to being out of control with examples like "off the rails" and "go to pieces".

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Decision & Control
in a fit of pique
in a fit of pique [phrase]

(of an action) done due to one's pride being hurt or not being treated well

Ex: He tends to make impulsive decisions in a fit of pique , only to regret them later .
to [spin|spiral] out of control
to [spin|spiral] out of control [phrase]

(of a situation) to keep getting worse in an uncontrollable manner

Ex: He spins out of control when faced with stressful situations , making impulsive decisions .
wild and woolly
wild and woolly [phrase]

(of behavior) not in accordance with law and order and free from control

Ex: The party became wild and woolly when guests started breaking things and causing disturbances .
on the spur of the moment
on the spur of the moment [phrase]

without any prior planning or thought

Ex: The couple decides to elope on the spur of the moment , disregarding their elaborate wedding plans .
in the heat of the moment
in the heat of the moment [phrase]

at a time when anger or excitement completely overwhelm one, preventing any rational thought to come to mind

Ex: I try to remain calm and composed , even in the heat of the moment .
to [be] beside {oneself}
to [be] beside {oneself} [phrase]

to find it extremely difficult to control oneself, due to feeling really angry, excited, etc.

Ex: He was beside himself with grief when he lost his beloved pet .
in the lap of the (gods|god)
in the lap of the (gods|god) [phrase]

used to say that a situation is beyond human control and is left to fate or chance to determine

Ex: They are anxiously waiting for the verdict , knowing that their fate is in the lap of the gods .
to [let] {one's} heart rule {one's} head
to [let] {one's} heart rule {one's} head [phrase]

to make a decision to do something solely based on one's emotions

Ex: In matters of love , it 's often better to let your heart rule your head and listen to your feelings .
the tail wagging the dog
the tail wagging the dog [sentence]

used to refer to a situation in which a person or thing that is important or powerful is being led or controlled by a significantly less powerful or important person or thing

Ex: The demands of a small interest group have become the tail wagging the dog in the political landscape , distorting policies that should reflect the broader public interest .
to [go] to pieces
to [go] to pieces [phrase]

to be unable to control oneself due to being under emotional or mental pressure

Ex: My mother went to pieces after his death .
off the rails
off the rails [phrase]

used to say that something is out of control or unpredictable

Ex:
to [jump] the (tracks|rails)
to [jump] the (tracks|rails) [phrase]

to unexpectedly switch from the planned path

Ex: The political campaign jumped the tracks after a series of controversial statements by the candidate .
to [cut] loose
to [cut] loose [phrase]

to allow oneself to behave freely and have fun

Ex: They decided to cut loose at the concert , singing along to their favorite songs and dancing with abandon .
quirk of fate
quirk of fate [phrase]

an unexpected or unusual occurrence or event that alters the course of events

Ex: Through a quirk of fate , he stumbled upon the job opportunity of a lifetime while browsing the internet .
Decision & Control
Under Control Out of Control Losing Control Being in Charge
Force & Obligation Obedience Choices & Decisions Decisiveness
Indecisiveness Dependency