In 15 Seconds
- Reaching the limit of your ability to wait calmly.
- Moving from being calm to feeling frustrated or annoyed.
- Commonly used with 'with' to identify the cause of frustration.
Meaning
This phrase describes the exact moment you stop being calm while waiting for something or someone. It is that feeling when your 'cool' runs out and you start getting annoyed or angry.
Key Examples
3 of 6Waiting for a late friend
I'm starting to lose patience; he was supposed to be here an hour ago.
I'm starting to lose patience; he was supposed to be here an hour ago.
Dealing with a difficult customer
The clerk finally lost patience when the customer asked for a tenth refund.
The clerk finally lost patience when the customer asked for a tenth refund.
Texting about a slow computer
Ugh, I'm totally losing patience with this laptop! It's so slow.
Ugh, I'm totally losing patience with this laptop! It's so slow.
Cultural Background
In the US, 'losing patience' is often seen as a sign that it is time to take action. It is common to hear it in consumer contexts where the customer feels their time is being wasted. The British often use 'losing patience' in a slightly more understated or 'polite' way, often preceded by 'I'm afraid I'm...' to soften the blow. Publicly stating you are losing patience is less common in Japan, as maintaining 'wa' (harmony) is important. Expressing it might be seen as a significant loss of composure. Efficiency is highly valued. Losing patience with a process that is seen as inefficient or illogical is considered a very reasonable and common reaction.
Use 'Starting to'
If you want to be polite, say 'I'm starting to lose my patience.' it sounds like a gentle warning rather than an attack.
Lose vs. Loose
Never write 'loose patience.' Loose is an adjective (like loose clothes). Lose is the verb you need here.
In 15 Seconds
- Reaching the limit of your ability to wait calmly.
- Moving from being calm to feeling frustrated or annoyed.
- Commonly used with 'with' to identify the cause of frustration.
What It Means
Lose patience is about reaching your limit. Imagine you have a bucket of calm energy. Every time someone is late or a computer crashes, a little drops out. When the bucket is empty, you have lost your patience. It is not just about being bored. It is about the transition from being okay to being frustrated.
How To Use It
You usually use it with with or with someone. For example, I am losing patience with this slow internet. You can also use it as a general statement about your personality. Some people lose patience quickly, while others have a lot of it. It works in almost any tense. You can say you lost it yesterday or are losing it right now.
When To Use It
Use this when things are taking too long. It is perfect for talking about slow traffic or long lines at the bank. It is also great for describing relationships. If a friend keeps making the same mistake, you might lose patience with them. It is a very relatable human feeling. Everyone has been there!
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for extreme rage or physical fighting. It is more about mental frustration. If you are truly furious, lose my temper is a better fit. Also, do not use it for quick, sudden scares. You do not lose patience because a dog barked at you. It requires a period of waiting or repeated annoyance first.
Cultural Background
In English-speaking cultures, patience is often called a 'virtue.' However, people also value efficiency and speed. There is a funny tension here. We admire patient people, but we all lose patience when the coffee machine breaks. In places like New York or London, people might lose patience faster than in a quiet countryside town.
Common Variations
You might hear people say they are running out of patience. This means they haven't lost it yet, but they are very close. Another common one is my patience is wearing thin. This sounds a bit more dramatic and serious. If you want to be more informal, you could say you are at the end of your rope.
Usage Notes
This is a neutral collocation suitable for both spoken and written English. Be careful with the spelling of `lose` and always use the preposition `with` when referring to the object of frustration.
Use 'Starting to'
If you want to be polite, say 'I'm starting to lose my patience.' it sounds like a gentle warning rather than an attack.
Lose vs. Loose
Never write 'loose patience.' Loose is an adjective (like loose clothes). Lose is the verb you need here.
The 'Saint' Comparison
To emphasize how much patience you have, you can say 'I have the patience of a saint, but even I am losing it now!'
Softening the Blow
In many English-speaking cultures, admitting you are losing patience is a way to ask for help or a change without being 'mean.'
Examples
6I'm starting to lose patience; he was supposed to be here an hour ago.
I'm starting to lose patience; he was supposed to be here an hour ago.
Shows the transition from waiting to being annoyed.
The clerk finally lost patience when the customer asked for a tenth refund.
The clerk finally lost patience when the customer asked for a tenth refund.
Describes the breaking point in a professional setting.
Ugh, I'm totally losing patience with this laptop! It's so slow.
Ugh, I'm totally losing patience with this laptop! It's so slow.
Common informal way to complain about technology.
Don't make me lose my patience with you, please clean your room.
Don't make me lose my patience with you, please clean your room.
Used as a mild warning or boundary setting.
Watch that guy in the pizza line; he's about to lose patience and eat the napkins.
Watch that guy in the pizza line; he's about to lose patience and eat the napkins.
Exaggerates the feeling for comedic effect.
The committee is losing patience with the lack of progress on the project.
The committee is losing patience with the lack of progress on the project.
Expresses collective frustration in a polite but firm way.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'lose patience' and the necessary preposition.
I'm really ______ ______ ______ this slow computer!
We use the present continuous 'losing' to show the feeling is happening now, and 'with' is the standard preposition for the object of frustration.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the best option:
Option B is correct. Option A uses 'the' incorrectly; Option C uses the wrong preposition; Option D uses 'loosed' instead of 'lost'.
Match the response to the situation.
Situation: You have been on hold with the bank for 45 minutes.
'Losing patience' is the specific response to a long wait or delay.
Fill in the missing line.
A: 'Is the boss okay?' B: 'Not really. He's ______ ______ ______ the marketing team because they missed the deadline again.'
The present continuous 'losing' fits the context of the boss's current state.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Patience Levels
Practice Bank
4 exercisesI'm really ______ ______ ______ this slow computer!
We use the present continuous 'losing' to show the feeling is happening now, and 'with' is the standard preposition for the object of frustration.
Choose the best option:
Option B is correct. Option A uses 'the' incorrectly; Option C uses the wrong preposition; Option D uses 'loosed' instead of 'lost'.
Situation: You have been on hold with the bank for 45 minutes.
'Losing patience' is the specific response to a long wait or delay.
A: 'Is the boss okay?' B: 'Not really. He's ______ ______ ______ the marketing team because they missed the deadline again.'
The present continuous 'losing' fits the context of the boss's current state.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsIt is neutral. You can use it with your boss, your friends, or your children.
No, that sounds unnatural. Use 'I lost patience' or 'I lost my patience.'
'Run out of' implies you have zero left. 'Lose' is the general action of it going away.
No, the correct preposition is 'with.'
'Lose' is present tense; 'lost' is past tense. 'I lost my patience yesterday.'
Yes! 'I'm losing patience with this old car.'
Similar, but 'losing your cool' is more about losing your overall composure or getting angry, not just about waiting.
Try: 'I'm afraid my patience is wearing a bit thin.'
Yes, e.g., 'I'm losing patience with this whole project.'
Extremely common in all dialects of English.
To 'keep your patience' or 'remain patient.'
Yes, that is a very common and natural alternative.
Related Phrases
run out of patience
similarTo have no patience left at all.
lose one's cool
similarTo lose one's temper or become upset.
at the end of one's rope
similarTo be at the limit of one's endurance.
keep one's patience
contrastTo remain calm despite difficulties.
test someone's patience
builds onTo do something that makes someone likely to lose their patience.
