lose one's way

lose one's way (third-person singular simple present loses one's way, present participle losing one's way, simple past and past participle lost one's way)

1. To become lost; to lose one's bearings, or idea of where one is.
   • 2017 June 3, Daniel Taylor, “Real Madrid win Champions League as Cristiano Ronaldo double defeats Juv”, in The Guardian (London)‎:

     It was certainly rare to see a Juventus team lose their way so badly bearing in mind it was 1-1 at the break and, if anything, Massimiliano Allegri’s players had looked the more rounded side.

   • 2011 March 1, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2 - 1 Man Utd”, in BBC‎:

     This was a wonderful advert for the Premier League, with both Chelsea and United intent on all-out attack - but Ferguson will be concerned at how his side lost their way after imperiously controlling much of the first period.

2. (figurative) To cease to succeed or to follow the right path; to fail.

   The band lost their way after their second album, and split up after a string of failures.

• find one's way