The phrase “bent out of shape” is an idiom that has two possible meanings:
- To become very angry, upset, or offended by something or someone. For example, “Don’t get all bent out of shape—I’m sure she didn’t mean to insult you.”
- To become very shocked, astonished, or surprised by something or someone. For example, “That conservative audience was bent out of shape by his speech.”
The origin of this idiom is not clear, but it may be related to the idea of twisting or bending something out of its original or normal form. It is a slang expression that dates from the second half of the 20th century. Some synonyms for this idiom are:
- get worked up
- lose one’s cool
- blow a fuse
- flip one’s lid
- go ballistic
Some antonyms for this idiom are:
- keep calm
- stay cool
- chill out
- relax
- take it easy
