tie up
[verb]
Synonyms: tie, bind, hamper, clog, curb, entrammel, fetter, hobble, hog-tie, leash, shackle
[noun]
Synonyms: association, affiliation, alliance, cahoots, combination, conjunction, connection, hookup, partnership, togetherness

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Related Words: linkup

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

tie up phrasal verb (see also tie)

1. PERSON tie somebody ↔ up to tie someone’s arms, legs etc so that they cannot move Synonym : bind:
The intruders tied Kurt up and left him.

2. OBJECT tie something ↔ up to fasten something together, using string, rope etc:
He tied up all the old newspapers.

3. BUSY be tied up to be very busy, so that you cannot do anything else:
I can’t see you tomorrow – I’ll be tied up all day.

4. TRAFFIC/PHONE/COURT ETC tie something ↔ up especially American English to block a system or use it so much that other people cannot use it or it does not work effectively ⇒ tie-up:
Don’t tie up the phone lines making personal calls.
Protesters tied up the traffic for three hours today.

5. MONEY be tied up if your money is tied up in something, it is all being used for that thing and is not available for anything else
be tied up in
My money’s all tied up in the house.

6. ARRANGEMENTS tie something ↔ up to finish arranging all the details of something such as an agreement or a plan Synonym : finalize:
We’d better tie up the details with a solicitor.

7. be tied up with something to be very closely related to something Synonym : be linked to:
The shortage of teachers is tied up with the issue of pay.

8. tie up loose ends to do the things that are necessary in order to finish a piece of work:
I need to tie up a few loose ends before I go on vacation.

9. ANIMAL tie something ↔ up to tie an animal to something with a rope, chain etc Synonym : tether
tie something ↔ up to
She left the dog tied up to a tree.

10. BOAT to tie a boat to something with a rope, chain etc Synonym : moor:
We tied up alongside a barge.
tie something ↔ up
There was a boat tied up at the jetty.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

ˈtie-up noun [countable] informal

1. an agreement to become business partners
tie-up with
IBM’s tie-up with Auspex System Inc

2. British English a strong connection between two or more things
tie-up between
the tie-up between class interests and politics

3. American English a situation in which traffic is prevented from moving or there is a problem which prevents a system or plan from working
⇒ tie up at tie¹

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

tie up
tie up (someone)
to limit someone's ability to act.
I was tied up in meetings all morning.

We were late because traffic tied us up for two hours!

tie up (something)
to limit the use of something.
All our savings are tied up in buying a house right now.

My daughter can tie the phone up for hours.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

tie up something
tie up (something)
to limit the use of something.
All our savings are tied up in buying a house right now.

My daughter can tie the phone up for hours.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

tie up
1. • tie up (someone)
to take all the time of someone
The meeting tied up the manager so she was unable to answer the phone.

2. • tie up (something)
to limit or prevent the use of something
All of my uncle's money is tied up in real estate investments.

3. • tie up (traffic)
to slow down traffic, to cause road traffic to stop
The accident tied up the highway traffic for two hours last night.

4. • tie up (a boat)
to dock a boat/ship
We tied up our boat at the pier when the storm came.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

tie up something
• tie up (something)
to limit or prevent the use of something
All of my uncle's money is tied up in real estate investments.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

tie up(1)
v. phr.
1. To show or stop the movement or action of; hinder; tangle.
The crash of the two trucks tied up all traffic in the center of town.
The strike tied up the factory.
2. To take all the time of.
The meeting will tie the President up until noon.
The Senate didn't vote because a debate on a small point kept it tied up all week.
He can't see you now. He's tied up on the telephone.
3. To limit or prevent the use of.
His money is tied up in a trust fund and he can't take it out.
Susan tied up the bathroom for an hour.
4. To enter into an association or partnership; join.
Our company has tied up with another firm to support the show.
5. To dock.
The ships tied up at New York.
6. slang To finish; complete.
We've talked long enough; let's tie up these plans and start doing things.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

tie-up(2)
n. A congestion; a stoppage of the normal flow of traffic, business or correspondence.
There was a two-hour traffic tie-up on the highway.
No pay checks were delivered because of the mail service tie-up.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲