1 B1 neutral
To coil or wind something tightly into a twisted shape.
"She twisted up the paper into a tight cone for the seeds."
separable
twist up
B2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To coil or contort something tightly, or to cause emotional distortion or tension.
In plain English
Wrap something tightly in a twist, or make something (or someone's feelings) all tangled up.
What does "twist up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To cause someone to feel emotionally confused, anxious, or in inner turmoil.
"The uncertainty about his future had twisted him up inside for weeks."
separable
3 C1 idiomatic slang
(British informal) To roll a cannabis cigarette.
"He sat in the garden and twisted one up while listening to music."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To coil or contort something by rotating it repeatedly.
Actually means
Wrap something tightly in a twist, or make something (or someone's feelings) all tangled up.
Usage tip
Used both literally (twisting materials) and figuratively (emotional distortion). In British slang, 'twisted up' can describe a state of emotional confusion or anguish. Also used in drug slang to describe rolling a joint.
Words that pair with "twist up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
wire feelings face paper rope inside
How to conjugate "twist up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
twist up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
twists up
he/she/it
Past simple
twisted up
yesterday
Past participle
twisted up
have + pp
-ing form
twisting up
continuous
Hear "twist up" in the wild
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Other ways to say "twist up"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
coil contort distort knot tangle wring
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