perdre le nord - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Compare Spanish perder el norte.
- (informal, figuratively) to lose one's bearings, to be all at sea
- Synonym: perdre la boussole
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.