tie (yourself) (up) in knots

1. to become very confused or worried when you are trying to make a decision or solve a problem.

They tied themselves in knots over the seating arrangements. (often + over)

2. to become very confused when you are trying to explain something.

She tied herself up in knots trying to tell me how to operate the video recorder.

• make a play for something
• make a point of
• make a point of doing something
• make a poor fist of
• make a poor fist of doing something
• make a poor fist of something
• make a practice of
• make a practice of doing something
• make a production of
• make a production of something
• make a production out of
• make a production out of something
• make a quick buck
• make a rod for own back
• make a rod for your own back
• make a run at
• make a run at something
• make a run for it
• make a scene
• make a song and dance about
• make a song and dance about doing something
• make a song and dance about something
• make a spectacle of
• make a spectacle of yourself
• make a splash