tie in knots

Definitions

1. To put (someone) in a difficult situation.
   idiomatic, transitive
2. To make (someone) upset or anxious.
   idiomatic, transitive

Equivalents

Examples

“That is where [Andrew] Cuomo’s unravelling began, with the revelation – admitted in part by his top aide, Melissa DeRosa, to state lawmakers – that the administration suppressed the number⟳ of nursing home deaths by several thousand in order⟳ to avoid⟳ a federal inquiry. DeRosa claimed the move⟳ was made to avoid⟳ Donald Trump tying them up in knots, but it sounded suspiciously like⟳ a cover-up.”

CEFR level