Meaning Of Idiom ‘Fit To Be Tied’
1. When someone is fit to be tied they are very angry or upset; outraged; furious; agitated. 1,2,3,4
2. Very worried; anxious, or upset.
Notes On Use
This idiom would suggest that someone is so angry and agitated that physical restraint may be necessary to control them. As such, it is often quite exaggerated and the typical meaning is simply ‘very angry’ or ‘very upset and agitated.’
Sentence Examples
“I tell you I’m fit to be tied. The audacity of her suggesting I don’t know how to do my job. I’ve been doing it for twenty years and she’s brand new!”
“He was fit to be tied after the dealership sold him a lemon. He threatened to not only sue, but to beat up the owner.”
“Did you get in trouble for ditching school the other day?” “In trouble? My dad was fit to be tied. He threatened to send me to military school.”
“We’ve been looking for you all over the neighborhood. Mom is fit to be tied. She called the police and said you were missing!”
“It’s funny. We always said we’d have to replace one singer in the group. Now we have to replace two.” “I bet Stix is fit to be tied.” — Sparkle (2012)
“Mother was fit to be tied 00:06:29 – every time he used her prized rhododendron to do his business.” — Duel Citizenship (2009)
“What’s up? You look good.” “Don’t try to sweet-talk me, Lynette Scavo. I am fit to be tied.” — Desperate Housewives: Now You Know (2007)
“Hi. How y’all doin’?” “Elvis Aaron Presley. I’m fit to be tied, that’s what I am. You better have a darn good excuse for bein’ late, young man.” — Quantum Leap: Memphis Melody – July 3, 1954 (1993)
Fit to Be Tied Origin
This idiom ‘fit to be tied’ has been used since the late 1800s, alluding to anger or agitation so extreme that one may need to be physically restrained with ropes, lest they do something rash and perhaps physically violent. 5
The word fit in this idiom means ‘suitable or ready for a particular purpose.’ Thus, the expression means ‘it would be appropriate or suitable to bond or restrain me because I am exceedingly upset.’ As mentioned above, the idiom is usually an exaggeration.
It is often suggested that this being tied, in this idiom, refers to being restrained by a straight jacket. Also called a straight waistcoat, these were invented in France in 1772 and could have been part of the allusion in this idiom. However, there is no direct evidence that this is the case. It seems unlikely that the public at large would have been referencing straight jackets during the latter 1800s, let alone referring to being restrained by such a device as ‘tied.’
In English, to be restrained by ropes is considered to be tied up. It seems just as likely that ‘fit to be tied’ refers simply to being restrained by ropes, a concept that existed long before straightjacket.
More Anger Idioms
References
- Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.
- Ayto, John. [http://amzn.to/2vdGvI7 Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms]. Oxford: Oxford U, 2010.
- Spears, Richard A. McGraw-Hill’s American Idioms Dictionary. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2008.
- American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
- Price, Steven D. Endangered Phrases: Intriguing Idioms Dangerously Close to Extinction. Skyhorse Pub, 2011.