Idiom
Bent out of shape
If you get bent out of shape, you become upset, annoyed or angry, usually about something that does not really matter.
How people use it
It is common in American English, usually with "get": "Don't get bent out of shape over one bad review." It often hints that the reaction is bigger than the problem deserves, so telling someone not to get bent out of shape can sound dismissive. The tone is informal. It is about feelings, not physical shape, and it is often used in the negative or as advice. Similar phrases include "get worked up" and "get your feathers ruffled."
Also said: get bent out of shape.
Examples
- My dad got bent out of shape because I parked in his spot.
- There's no need to get bent out of shape; it's only a practice game.
- Sam gets bent out of shape whenever someone touches his desk.
Where it comes from
The phrase is American slang from about the 1960s. It pictures something metal or plastic twisted until it no longer looks right, just as an upset person seems twisted out of their normal calm. Its exact first use is not known; some writers link it to military or aviation slang, but there is no clear proof.
Check yourself
1. What does it mean if your roommate is bent out of shape?
Answer: She is upset or annoyed. Bent out of shape means upset, often more than the situation deserves.
2. Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Answer: Leo got bent out of shape when the store ran out of his favorite cereal.. The idiom describes getting upset, not feeling relaxed or bending real objects.
Similar idioms
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