phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions at

"Losing your marbles"

Posted by Smokey Stover on July 16, 2005

In Reply to: "Losing your marbles" posted by ESC on July 14, 2005

: : Where does the phrase "Loosing your marbles" originate form?

: In the U.S., "losing your marbles" means losing your mind...suffering from mental illness. I am assuming its origin is the children's game of marbles.

The OED describes "losing your marbles" as a colloquialism originating in North America. The citations, beginning in 1902, seem to stress mental acuity and memory rather than mental illness. SS

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