Dictionary

tie oneself in knots en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To put oneself in a difficult situation.
   • Across the border in the Netherlands, there was further controversy when the new US ambassador, Peter Hoekstra, tied himself in knots by claiming he had never spoken about Muslim no-go zones in Europe, an obsession for the far-right, when he had. 2018 December 6, Shaun Walker, “Trump's European diplomats tied in knots over rise of populism”, in The Guardian:
2. (idiomatic) To become anxious or upset; to fret.
   • The two greatest actors of their generation – the two greatest actors of most generations – [Al] Pacino and [Robert] De Niro will spend the rest of eternity being compared. People will tie themselves up in knots over who did the best work, who was the best in The Godfather Part II, who won their first scene together in Heat, who was the least bad in Righteous Kill. 2023 June 1, Stuart Heritage, “Acting, sexiness and late babies: why Pacino v De Niro is the daddy of all rivalries”, in The Guardian:

Forms

Relateds

tie in knots · in knots · tied in knots

Translations (9)

fr se prendre la tête (to become anxious or upset; to fret) · fr se ronger les sangs (to become anxious or upset; to fret) · fi hermoilla (to become anxious or upset; to fret) · fr se faire des cheveux blancs (to become anxious or upset; to fret) · it farsi il sangue amaro (to become anxious or upset; to fret) · fr se faire de la bile (to become anxious or upset; to fret) · fr se faire un sang d'encre (to become anxious or upset; to fret) · fr se faire du mauvais sang (to become anxious or upset; to fret) · pl zaniepokoić się (to become anxious or upset; to fret)