tied in knots
Appearance
English
[edit]Alternative forms
[edit]Adjective
[edit]tied in knots (comparative more tied in knots, superlative most tied in knots)
- (idiomatic) In a state of confusion; in a difficult situation, in a bind.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:in trouble
- 2023 June 8, Joe Vardon, “NBA Finals Game 3: A coronation for Nikola Jokić and comeback for Jamal Murray”, in The Athletic[1]:
- [Nikola] Jokić is his own story and because he is so big and so good and so versatile, the Heat are tied in knots trying to figure out how to slow him down.
- (idiomatic) Worried, anxious, upset.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:nervous
- 2004 August 28, Hope Donahue, “Nip and tuck and nip again”, in The Guardian[2]:
- There is no misery like the misery of being trapped in your own brain. The more I think about my problems, the more tied up in knots I become. I do not want to be alone, or pretend that I am not lonely. I don't want to pretend at all.
Related terms
[edit]Verb
[edit]- simple past and past participle of tie in knots