When you tie something up, you fasten string or rope round it so that it is firm or secure.
He tied up the bag and took it outside. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
[Also VERB noun PARTICLE]
2. phrasal verb
If someone ties another person up, they fasten ropes or chains around them so that they cannot move or escape.
Masked robbers broke in, tied him up, and made off with $8,000. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
At about 5 a.m. they struck again in Fetcham, tying up a couple and ransacking theirhouse. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
3. phrasal verb
If you tie an animal up, you fasten it to a fixed object with a piece of rope so that it cannot run away.
Would you go and tie your horse up please. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
They dismounted, tied up their horses and gave them the grain they had brought. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
4. phrasal verb
If you tie up an issue or problem, you deal with it in a way that gives definite conclusions or answers.
Kingfisher confirmed that it hopes to tie up a deal within the next two weeks. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
We could have tied the whole case up without getting you and Smith shot at. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
5. See also tied up, tie-up
More Synonyms of tie up
See full dictionary entry for tie
tie-up
Word forms: plural tie-ups
1. countable noun
A tie-up or a traffic tie-up is a long line of vehicles that cannot move forward because there is too much traffic,or because the road is blocked by something.
[US]
In some cities this morning, there were traffic tie-ups up to 40 miles long.
regional note: in BRIT, use traffic jam
2. countable noun
A tie-up between two organizations is a business connection that has been arranged betweenthem.
...tie-ups between big media companies and telecommunications operators. [+ between]
[Also + with]
More Synonyms of tie up
tie up in British English
verb(adverb)
1. (transitive)
to attach or bind securely with or as if with string, rope, etc
2.
to moor (a vessel)
3. (tr; often passive)
to engage the attentions of
he's tied up at the moment and can't see you
4. (tr; often passive)
to conclude (the organization of something)
the plans for the trip were tied up well in advance
5.
to come or bring to a complete standstill
6. (transitive)
to invest or commit (funds, etc) and so make unavailable for other uses
7. (transitive)
to subject (property) to conditions that prevent sale, alienation, or other action
nountie-up
8.
a link or connection
9. mainly US and Canadian
a standstill
10. mainly US and Canadian an informal term for traffic jam
tie-up in British English
(ˈtaɪʌp)
noun
1.
a business connection that has been arranged between two organizations
The deal is expected to result in similar tie-ups between big media companies andtelecommunications operators.
2. US
a long line of vehicles that cannot move forward because there is too much traffic, or because the road is blocked by something
In some cities this morning, there were traffic tie-ups up to 40 miles long.
tie up in American English
1.
to tie firmly or securely
2.
to wrap up and tie with string, cord, etc.
3.
to moor (a ship or boat) to a dock
4. US
to obstruct; hinder; stop
5.
to cause to be already in use, retained, committed, etc.
See full dictionary entry for tie
tie-up in American English
(ˈtaɪˌʌp)
noun
1. US
a temporary stoppage or interruption of work, production, traffic, service, etc.
2.
a. US
a place for mooring a boat
b. US, Dialectal
a place for tying up cattle at night
3.
connection, relation, or involvement
Examples of 'tie up' in a sentence
tie up
Suppose there's fog all the way to Seattle, to the moment we tie up at the SVL Timber quay.
Innes, Hammond HIGH STAND
The boat pulled alongside and, without waiting for the helmsman to tie up, Carol jumped ashore.
Val McDermid THE LAST TEMPTATION (2002)
Marijke and Tony had had to carry on downriver for another mile or so before they found a wharf where they could tie up.
Val McDermid THE LAST TEMPTATION (2002)
`'My brother Cyrus and his crew will follow in our helicopter as soon as they tie up a pair of loose ends.
Cussler, Clive INCA GOLD (1994)
`Sam thought the tie-up with Suntours was wonderfully clever," she said.
St. James, Ian FINAL RESORT (1999)
He knew what Kershaw didn't - the tie-up between this and the peculiar way in which Cantrell's guards had been treating him.
Hilton, John Buxton PASSION IN THE PEAK (1999)
For a change there was no big traffic tie-up along the I-5 corridor.
J. A. Jance BREACH OF DUTY (1999)
In other languages
tie up
British English: tie up /taɪ ʌp/ VERB
When you tie something up, you fasten string or rope round it so that it is firm or secure.
He tied up the bag and took it outside.
American English: tie up
Arabic: يَرْبُطُ
Brazilian Portuguese: amarrar
Chinese: 缚牢
Croatian: zavezati
Czech: zavázat
Danish: binde
Dutch: vastbinden
European Spanish: atar
Finnish: sitoa
French: ficeler
German: zubinden
Greek: δένω
Italian: allacciare
Japanese: 固く縛る
Korean: 긴밀한 관계를 맺다
Norwegian: binde sammen
Polish: zawiązać
European Portuguese: amarrar
Romanian: a ambala
Russian: привязывать
Latin American Spanish: inmovilizar
Swedish: binda fast
Thai: มัดให้แน่น
Turkish: bağlamak birini
Ukrainian: зав'язувати
Vietnamese: buộc chặt
Chinese translation of 'tie up'
tie up
vt
[parcel]捆(綑)绑(綁) (kǔnbǎng)
[dog]拴 (shuān)
[person]捆(綑)绑(綁) (kǔnbǎng)
(= settle)[arrangements, deal etc]了结(結) (liǎojié)
to be tied up (inf, = busy) 忙得不可开(開)交 (máng de bù kě kāi jiāo)