This can lead to much confusion for my poor American friends. I often australian slang for dinner their brows furrow as they try to make out exactly what I’m saying.
I think us Brits are a little more used to American slang words, mainly through the import of American TV shows and all the movies we absorbed when we were growing up. My British friend told me that she used this one whilst discussing a project with a group of Americans and they were baffled. I now know why, when I’ve used it, it’s had a similar reaction. I use this when I refer to someone who has just got their knickers in a twist’ and become even madder about whatever it was they got their knickers in a twist about. I don’t think this is used in the States, as far as I am aware, because I do tend to get a confused response.
I do this myself a lot. Social media has a lot to answer for. I’m hoping that this word is slowly, but surely, making its way into common usage in the small part of America that I live in. I’ve noticed, and sometimes over a margarita too. My husband was totally hammered just last week and I mentioned it to my American chum, who is now used to my funny British phrases. I wondered at the time if my American Facebook friends would know what that meant. One of the best British slang phrases and I use this one oodles, possibly on purpose to add a British flavour to my rhetoric.