lose your keys

Meaning

This phrase means to misplace or be unable to find the keys to your home, car, or office. It is a very common daily frustration. Note that the possessive pronoun 'your' changes to 'my', 'his', 'her', etc., depending on who owns the keys.

Examples

• I always lose my keys when I'm in a rush.

  I always lose my keys when I'm in a rush.

• Did you lose your keys again? They are on the kitchen table.

  Did you lose your keys again? They are on the kitchen table.

• She was late because she lost her keys this morning.

  She was late because she lost her keys this morning.

• If you lose your keys, you will have to call a locksmith.

  If you lose your keys, you will have to call a locksmith.

• I put them in my bag so I wouldn't lose my keys.

  I put them in my bag so I wouldn't lose my keys.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I loosed my keys yesterday.

  ✓ I lost my keys yesterday.

  The past tense of the irregular verb 'lose' is 'lost', not 'loosed'.

• ✗ I lost my key.

  ✓ I lost my keys.

  People usually carry a set of keys together, so native speakers almost always use the plural form 'keys' even if they are referring to a single keychain.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I always put my keychain in the same bowl so I don't ___.

  💡 Misplace the metal objects used to open doors.

  Show answer

  lose my keys

• Help me look under the sofa, I think I ___.

  💡 Past tense of misplacing your keys.

  Show answer

  lost my keys