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Published: Aug. 5, 2015, 5:51 a.m.

Have you ever wondered what somebody meant when they said to you, \u201cI must be losing my mind?\u201d You probably thought that is impossible because while a brain is a real thing, a mind is not. This is one of those rich idioms that adds flavor and color to the English language.

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As Gabby and Rob explain in this English episode, the expression is normally used after someone seems to have forgotten something they had just done or seen. Most commonly it is heard when someone can\u2019t find their keys, as they\u2019re trying to run out the door. They will say, \u201cI must be losing my mind, I was just holding my keys and only put them down for a second. Where did I put them?\u201d Gabby and Rob explain that it is a similar phrase to \u201cI must be going crazy.\u201d

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If you want to sound more native-like and fluent in English, be sure to add colorful phrases like this to your conversation, but make sure you are using them correctly. More tips and advice like this can be found at gonaturalenglish.com where your American English teacher, Gabby Wallace is always ready to help.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPV5n5PGIXo

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Episode Transcript below:

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Hello! Welcome to Go Natural English.

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I am so excited to be here with my friend, Rob.

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Rob, how are you doing?

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All is well, Gabby Wallace, I\u2019m excited to be here with you and all of your audience.

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So, Rob is an English teacher and his students have asked him some interesting questions.

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One of those questions \u2013 was about - what was it- my mind \u2013 I\u2019m losing ...

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Yes ...?

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... something?.. I don\u2019t know \u2013 what was it?

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Yes, the question was, \u201cwhat does \u2018losing my mind\u2019 mean?\u201d

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Oh, that\u2019s a great idiom.

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Yeah.

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So, it\u2019s pretty common, right ...

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Yeah ...

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... to use \u201closing my mind?\u201d

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... Yeah.

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She lost her mind or ...

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You must have lost your ever-loving mind.

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That\u2019s a good twist on it.

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Yeah, the question was, \u201cWhat does losing my mind mean?\u201d

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Maybe \u2013 you\u2019re a little bit better at this than I am ...

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Oh, Please.

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... but my explanation was, \u201cbasically, OK, if you forgot something or you can\u2019t focus on whatever you\u2019re trying to focus on, or if you\u2019re trying to do some work, or you\u2019re trying to find something like, \u201cI just had my keys \u2013 I just saw my keys \u2013 what am I doing? I must be losing my mind. My keys were just right here \u201c and I don\u2019t know where they are now but they\u2019re in your pocket the whole time.

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I have to be losing my mind but you have so much on your mind, you can\u2019t focus.

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So ...

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Is it similar do you think to the idiom, \u201cI must be going crazy\u201d?

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Yeah.

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I might use it at the same time like, \u201cI lost my keys. I can\u2019t find them anywhere. I must be going crazy.\u201d

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It\u2019s in the same neighborhood.

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Mmmm.

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Cool.

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That\u2019s great.

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It\u2019s in the same neighborhood.

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Yeah, I must be going crazy.

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Another idiom, \u201cIt\u2019s in the same neighborhood.\u201d

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It\u2019s very similar.

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Uh huh ...

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Exactly.

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... awesome.

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Well, thanks for sharing that idiom with us.

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Oh, well, thank you.

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Super helpful.

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It\u2019s great.

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So, if you\u2019d like to learn more idioms, more natural American English, then come visit me at gonaturalenglish.com.

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You can come get a free eBook and you can check out the premium course.

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Indeed.

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Alright.

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Thanks guys for watching.

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Take care.

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See you there.

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Photo Credit:\xa0ClkerFreeVectorImages

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The post English Idiom \u2013 Rob talks about Losing my Mind! appeared first on Go Natural English.