tie oneself in knots

present singular third person ties oneself in knots · participle present tying oneself in knots · participle past tied oneself in knots · past tied oneself in knots · alternative tie oneself up in knots

1. idiomaticTo put oneself in a difficult situation.

   Across the border in the Netherlands, there was further controversy when the new US ambassador, Peter Hoekstra, tied himself in knots by claiming he had never spoken about Muslim no-go zones in Europe, an obsession for the far-right, when he had.

   2018 December 6, Shaun Walker, “Trump's European diplomats tied in knots over rise of populism”, in The Guardian

2. idiomaticTo become anxious or upset; to fret.

   1 more example

   The two greatest actors of their generation – the two greatest actors of most generations – [Al] Pacino and [Robert] De Niro will spend the rest of eternity being compared. People will tie themselves up in knots over who did the best work, who was the best in The Godfather Part II, who won their first scene together in Heat, who was the least bad in Righteous Kill.

   2023 June 1, Stuart Heritage, “Acting, sexiness and late babies: why Pacino v De Niro is the daddy of all rivalries”, in The Guardian