lose one's way

present singular third person loses one's way · participle present losing one's way · participle past lost one's way · past lost one's way

1. To become lost; to lose one's bearings, or idea of where one is.

   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.

   2017 June 3, Daniel Taylor, “Real Madrid win Champions League as Cristiano Ronaldo double defeats Juve”, in The Guardian (London)

   1 more example

   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.

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

2. figurativelyTo 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.