Idiom
get your knickers in a twist
Meanings
To become overly upset, angry, or anxious about something, especially something minor.
Definition
To get your knickers in a twist means to become unnecessarily upset, angry, or worried about something.
If you get your knickers in a twist, you react too strongly to something small or unimportant. It often suggests you are stressed, offended, or irritated when you don’t need to be. The phrase is informal and is used more in British English, sometimes humorously.
Examples
- Don’t get your knickers in a twist—it was just a joke.
- He got his knickers in a twist because the meeting started five minutes late.
- She always gets her knickers in a twist when plans change at the last minute.
- Try not to get your knickers in a twist about a tiny mistake.
- My dad got his knickers in a twist over the wrong brand of cereal.
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share a quick update or confirm plans.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to tease someone or make fun of them in a not-too-serious way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More idioms
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- close but no cigar Used to say someone almost succeeded but did not quite achieve the goal.
- down to the wire If something goes down to the wire, it is decided at the very last moment before the deadline or fi…
- lost the plot To become confused or unreasonable and no longer understand what is happening or what matters.
- ducks in a row To have everything organized and ready in the correct order.