Incredible Idioms 8

Losing One's Marbles

I came across this idiom in a book Compulsively Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth was losing her marbles when being around this über hot OCD CEO man Mr. Darcy. Not sure what she meant by that? Well, here is the thing. If you lose your marbles, you are going a bit crazy. It can be because of stress from school - for example I was definitelly losing my marbles because of my Old English lessons. It can be because of some irritating people - aren't  you losing your marbles when trapped in a train with an annoying friend from high-school? I know I was when he kept talking rude bullshit about everyone and everything and thought he was being funny. But Elizabeth is simply losing her marbles around Mr. Darcy because he is SO attractive and she is being overwhelmed by his manly sexiness. Or sexy manliness. Or whatever, you can imagine, I guess.

As for the origine of the phrase, it seems it is not agreed upon. I have found two different opinions - one ascribes the origin of the phrase to a play from 1902, where marbles, little marble balls that children used to play with, were used idiomatically to express anger. As you would be angry to losing your marbles to your competitor in a game, this connection makes sense. The meaning of the phrase has evolved in time, from meaning mad in its angry (American) sense to mad in its crazy (British) sense.

The other source provides a different explanation. Apparently, marbles were thought quite important for people, as their wits are. So losing one's marbles was seen as losing something vital and the connection to one's sanity was at hand. 

So, what about you? 

When do you tend to lose your marbles?

And what explanation of the origin of the phrase sounds more appealing to you?

And - most importantly - did you use to play marbles when you were children?

Let us know in the comments below!