Bent out of shape
Channel: English Unpacked
Date: 2023-10-25

The idiom "bent out of shape" is used to describe someone who is extremely upset, angry, or agitated about something. It implies that the person's emotional state is distorted or twisted, much like an object that has been physically bent out of its original shape. This idiom is often used to emphasize someone's excessive or exaggerated reaction to a situation.
Here are a few examples to illustrate the usage of "bent out of shape":
1. Sarah got bent out of shape when she found out that someone had taken her parking spot. She started yelling and cursing at the person, even though it was just a minor inconvenience.
2. The boss got bent out of shape when he discovered that his team had made a small mistake in the report. He began shouting and berating his employees, making them feel extremely uncomfortable.
3. My dad gets bent out of shape whenever he sees me using my phone at the dinner table. He believes it's disrespectful, so he always makes a big fuss about it.
4. Jake's parents got bent out of shape when they found out he had failed a test. They grounded him for weeks and took away all his privileges, even though it was just one bad grade.
5. The customer got bent out of shape when the store didn't have the product she wanted in stock. She started complaining loudly and demanded to speak to the manager.
In all of these examples, the individuals are overly upset or angry about relatively minor issues. They react in an exaggerated manner, becoming bent out of shape. This idiom is commonly used in informal conversations and can be a lighthearted way to describe someone's intense emotional reaction.