ENGLISH
REFERENCE

tie oneself in knots

idiom
Meaning

To put oneself in a difficult situation.


Examples
SIMPLE

Don't tie yourself in knots over such a small mistake.

CONTEXTUAL

He started to tie himself in knots trying to explain why he was late for the meeting.

COMPLEX

By attempting to please everyone at once, she only succeeded in tying herself in knots, leaving her more confused than when she began.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    adorn oneself with borrowed plumes

    To claim the honor of another for oneself.

  2. 02

    apply oneself

    Synonym of strive: to work hard, to complete an activity with good effort and focus.

  3. 03

    be oneself

    To behave or act naturally, without regard to how this behavior is perceived by others.

  4. 04

    bear oneself

    To behave and conduct oneself in a particular manner.

  5. 05

    box oneself into a corner

    To create a predicament or problem for oneself; to do something that leaves one with no good alternatives or solutions.

  6. 06

    buy a dog and bark oneself

    To do something that one has hired someone else to do.

  7. 07

    carry oneself

    To move, especially emphasizing the manner in which one moves.

  8. 08

    come to oneself

    To gain consciousness or self-control.

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