To be extremely frightened to the point of losing one's ability to think clearly or rationally.
The word 'wits' originally meant one's mental faculties or intelligence, derived from Old English 'witt' meaning knowledge or understanding. The phrase emerged in the 16th century, building on the earlier concept that extreme emotions could literally drive away one's reasoning abilities, as if fear could physically expel intelligence from the body.
This idiom reflects an ancient belief that the mind was a tangible entity that could be displaced by powerful emotions. The phrase beautifully captures how terror can indeed override our rational thinking, making us feel as though our intelligence has temporarily abandoned us when we need it most.
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