Etymology

fit to be tied

Today it means: Very agitated or distressed; also, very angry; enraged, furious. Full definition →

First used early 19th c.
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The story

From fit (“proper, suitable; prepared, ready”, adjective) + to (infinitive-marking particle) + be (auxiliary passive-voice verb) + tied (“attached or fastened by string or the like; bound”, adjective), probably referring to someone being so agitated or angry that they need to be physically restrained to prevent harm to themselves and/or others.

First known use, by meaning

  • from early 19th c. Very agitated or distressed; also, very angry; enraged, furious.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.