To get bent out of shape

Although the meanings of the words in them do not make any sense when examined one by one, the word groups that are shaped according to the cultural roots of the language and that make sense as a whole are called idioms. To get bent out of shape meaning, in what situations is it used?

Meaning of "To get bent out of shape"

Meaning

The phrase “to get bent out of shape” is an English idiom that is used to refer to someone becoming angry or upset over something trivial or inconsequential. It suggests that the person is emotionally overreacting or having a disproportionately strong reaction to something. In this case, the person is “bent out of shape” due to their intense emotions.

Etymology

The earliest known recorded use of the phrase “to get bent out of shape” was in the late 1950s, but its origin is unclear. It is believed that the phrase is derived from the expression “bent out of shape,” which was originally used to describe something that was distorted or out of alignment. This suggests that the phrase was originally used to describe someone whose emotions were so intense that it was as if their whole body was out of alignment.

Usage

The phrase “to get bent out of shape” is typically used when someone is responding to a situation that is not really worth getting upset over. It is primarily used in informal contexts and is often used to describe someone’s overreaction in a humorous or light-hearted way. It can be used to describe both the person themselves or their reaction to something. For example, someone might say “Don’t get bent out of shape! It’s not worth it!” or “He really got bent out of shape over that.”

Example Sentences

• I don’t know why she got so bent out of shape. It’s not a big deal.
• My brother always gets bent out of shape about the smallest things.
• I can’t believe he got so bent out of shape over something so silly.
• Why don’t you just relax and stop getting bent out of shape?

Idioms with similar meaning

"Don't judge a book by its cover" is an English idiom that means you shouldn't make assumptions about someone or something based solely on its appearance. In Japanese, the similar idiom is "Hana yori dango," which translates to "Dumplings rather than flowers." This idiom means that substance is more important than appearance.