get one's knickers in a twist
Become overly agitated
To get one's knickers in a twist is to become upset or agitated over something minor.
The British expression suggests underwear bunched uncomfortably—a fitting image for needless distress.
Usually appears in the negative as advice to calm down: Don't get your knickers in a twist, it's just a typo.
Americans sometimes substitute panties or shorts.
- overreactRespond disproportionately to something
- make a mountain out of a molehillExaggerate trivial problems drastically
- have a cowOverreact dramatically to something
- blow a fuseLose control from anger
- tizzyAgitated emotional state
agitation · annoyance · lose one's cool · lose the plot · fretfulness · fly off the handle · fly into a rage · British slang · frustration · tempest in a teapot · get bent out of shape · irritation · exasperation · fluster · hissy fit · impatience · snit · make a fuss
get one's knickers in a twistkeep one's cool
Maintain emotional control
stay calm · keep calm · chill out · keep one's head · stay cool
get one's knickers in a twistroll with the punches
Cope with adversity flexibly
shrug it off · let it go · brush it off · go with the flow · water off a duck's back
twisted, getting, twisting, oneself, untwist, twists, knickers, untwisted, knicker