# tied in knots

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/tied-in-knots
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

In a state of confusion; in a difficult situation, in a bind.

## Examples

- My stomach is tied in knots before the big exam.
- The complicated legal contract left the small business owner feeling completely tied in knots.
- Caught between conflicting loyalties and impossible demands, he found his thoughts tied in knots as he struggled to reach a final decision.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.