Fit to be tied

Definitions

• anger or frustration
  To express extreme anger or frustration towards a situation or person

• extremely nervous or anxious
  To describe someone who is extremely nervous or anxious about a situation or event

• extremely upset or worried
  To describe someone who is extremely upset or worried about something

Examples of Fit to be tied

• The business partner had received the financial report and was fit to be tied. He couldn't believe the losses the company had incurred.

  This idiom means that the person is extremely angry or frustrated. In this example, the business partner is so angry and disappointed with the financial report that he could be tied up as a punishment.

• The bride's dress was fit to be tied when she saw her ex-boyfriend at the wedding.

  Here, the idiom is used to indicate that the bride was completely shocked and surprised to see her ex-boyfriend, to the point where she could have been tied up because of her intense reaction.

• The detective was fit to be tied when the criminal confessed to the crime.

  This example shows that the detective was extremely excited or pleased upon learning that the criminal had confessed, to the point where he could have been tied up as a symbol of his enthusiasm.

• The team captain was fit to be tied after the team lost the championship match.

  This example uses the idiom in a more conventional way, indicating that the team captain was extremely angry and frustrated due to the team's loss.

• The police officer was fit to be tied after chasing the suspect for several blocks in scorching heat.

  The phrase "fit to be tied" here means that the police officer was extremely exhausted and annoyed due to the strenuous chase. This expression emphasizes how agitated, overwhelmed, and infuriated someone could be in a particular situation.

• The CEO was fit to be tied when he discovered that one of his executives had embezzled a significant amount of company funds.

  In this example, "fit to be tied" indicates that the CEO was extremely angry and irritated because of the embezzlement. It highlights the severity of the scenario and implies that the CEO was ready to take harsh and strict actions against the responsible executive.

• The hiker was fit to be tied when he accidentally lost his way in the dense forest with no proper navigation equipment.

  Here, "fit to be tied" portrays the hiker's overwhelming feeling of frustration, helplessness, and annoyance due to his lack of direction and navigation skills amidst the thick forest. It emphasizes the intensity of his distress.

• The student was fit to be tied when she realized that she had forgotten her textbook at home on the day of the crucial exam.

  In this example, "fit to be tied" signifies the student's extreme irritation and agitation because of her forgetfulness and its consequent adverse effects on her exam preparation. It highlights the intensity of her discomfort.

Conclusion

The idiom "fit to be tied" is often used to express strong negative emotions such as anger, frustration, nervousness, anxiety, upset, or worry. It is typically used to describe someone's state of mind or emotions rather than a physical state.

In some cases, it can also be used to describe an object or situation that is causing these negative emotions. For example, "the broken car has me fit to be tied" or "the constant noise from the construction next door has me fit to be tied."

This idiom is often used in a hyperbolic or exaggerated manner to emphasize the intensity of one's emotions.

Origin of "Fit to be tied"

The origin of the idiom "fit to be tied" is unclear, but it is believed to have originated in the 19th century in America. One theory suggests that it may have come from the act of tying someone up when they were in a state of extreme anger or frustration to prevent them from causing harm to themselves or others.

Another theory suggests that it may have originated from the phrase "fit to be tied up," which was used to describe someone who was ready to be hanged or executed. Over time, the phrase evolved to simply "fit to be tied."

Regardless of its exact origin, the idiom has become a common phrase in the English language to express strong negative emotions.