Literal translation
he has lost the compass
Meaning
he's lost his bearings
Explanation
This expression, identical in French and Provençal, describes someone disoriented, unable to find their usual bearings when facing a situation that overwhelms them. The literal image draws on the compass, an instrument that indicates direction and allows one to find one's way even in unknown territory: losing it means being left without any point of reference, at the mercy of chance. The figurative sense goes well beyond simple geographical confusion to cover mental disarray, panic, and the loss of judgment when faced with a hard choice or an upsetting event. The phrase works equally well for someone momentarily panicking and for a prolonged state of inner disorganisation. The register is ordinary, with no strong dialectal marking, which explains why it appears almost identically in both languages: the metaphor of the navigational instrument belongs to a shared cultural background, tied to the history of seafaring and exploration, common well beyond Provence. It is used freely in both speech and writing.