get (one's) knickers in a twist

To become overly upset or emotional over something, especially that which is trivial or unimportant. Ah, don't get your knickers in a twist, I'll have the car back by tomorrow morning! In my opinion, people are getting their knickers in a twist over this election. A: "Oh no, our picnic is ruined!" B: "It'll stop raining soon—don't get your knickers in a twist."

get your knickers in a twist

BRITISH, INFORMAL

If someone gets their knickers in a twist, they become very upset or worried about something. He'll get a nasty shock, but he's not the first one, and he won't be the last, so why get our knickers in a twist? Let's not get our knickers in a twist until we see the outcome of those games. Note: You can also say that someone has their knickers in a twist. So why do these MPs have their knickers in a twist? Note: This expression is often used to show that you think that someone is more upset than is reasonable.

get your knickers in a twist

become upset or angry. British informal

This expression was originally used specifically of women, the humorous masculine equivalent being get your Y-fronts in a twist .

1998 Times I'm not as anxious as I was…Most things these days, I'm really not going to get my knickers in a twist about.

get/have your ˈknickers in a twist

(British English) (American English get/have your ˈpanties in a knot) (informal) react too strongly to a difficult situation by getting angry, upset, confused, etc: The boss is getting his knickers in a twist about these sales figures. ♢ Don’t get your panties in a knot about it! It’s no big deal.