tie into knots
tie (someone or oneself) (up) into knots
1. To make someone oneself feel particularly confused, anxious, worried, or upset. I've been planning to propose to James on Sunday, but the nervousness is tying me into knots! Now don't go tying yourself in knots over the details of your papers—at this point, all you need is a cohesive outline.
2. To cause someone or oneself to become flustered while attempting to explain something. Jim's a smart guy, but for some reason he always ties himself up into knots whenever I ask him to explain something on the computer for me. The complex technical language kept tying me in knots as I tried to present it to the board.
See also: knot, tie
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
tie into knots
Confuse, upset, or bewilder, as in He tied himself into knots when he tried to explain how the engine works. This metaphoric idiom transfers a knotted tangle to mental confusion. [Late 1800s]
See also: knot, tie
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
- for (one's) (own) sake
- for sake
- keep (someone or something) in sight
- keep in sight
- keep sight of
- keep sight of (someone or something)
- keep sight of somebody/something
- leave (someone, something, or oneself) (wide) open for (something)
- leave oneself wide open for
- leave yourself wide open to something