[Idiom] DON’T GET BENT OUT OF SHAPE. - Learning to Stay Calm: Handling Frustration

get upset or angry.

The idiom 'Don't get bent out of shape' is a colorful way to tell someone not to get overly upset or angry about a situation. Picture a piece of metal that bends when under stress; similarly, the phrase is used when someone is reacting too strongly to stressful circumstances. It’s often employed as friendly advice or a mild reprimand, suggesting that keeping a cool head is more beneficial. Understanding this idiom helps individuals recognize when perhaps their emotional response could be a bit out of proportion, promoting a more balanced and healthy reaction to everyday annoyances or frustrations.

Example Sentences

1. Don’t get bent out of shape over a minor issue.

   Don't become upset over something minor.

2. She always gets bent out of shape when things don’t go her way.

   She always gets very upset when things don't work out.

3. He got bent out of shape because he missed his bus.

   He was annoyed because he missed the bus.