tight
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- stretched, close, constricted, cramped, narrow, rigid, snug, taut
- miserly, grasping, mean, niggardly, parsimonious, stingy, tightfisted
- close, even, evenly-balanced, well-matched
- drunk, inebriated, intoxicated, paralytic (informal), plastered (slang), tipsy, under the influence (informal)

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Antonyms: loose
Contrasted words: lax, limp, shaky, loosened, slack, unconstricted
Related Idioms: tight as a tick
Related Words: clasped, solid, steadfast, skintight, constricted, contracted, drawn, tightened, inflexible, rigid, stiff, difficult, exacting, tense, critical, punishing, distressing, disturbing, upsetting

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English Thesaurus: strict, tight, tough, harsh, stringent, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. tight¹ S2 W3 /taɪt/ adjective (comparative tighter, superlative tightest)
[Word Family: adverb: tight, tightly; verb: tighten; noun: tightness; adjective: tight]
[Date: 1400-1500; Origin: thight 'closely packed, solid, thick' (14-19 centuries), probably from a Scandinavian language]

1. CLOTHES tight clothes fit your body very closely, especially in a way that is uncomfortable Antonym : loose:
tight jeans
My shoes were so tight that I could hardly walk.
The jacket is rather a tight fit (=it fits too tightly).

2. PULLED/STRETCHED FIRMLY string, wire, cloth etc that is tight has been pulled or stretched firmly so that it is straight or cannot move:
The bandage must be tight enough to stop the bleeding.
She tied the rope around the post and pulled it tight.

3. ATTACHED FIRMLY a screw, lid etc that is tight is firmly attached and difficult to move:
Check that the screws are tight.

4. HOLDING SOMETHING FIRMLY a tight hold/grip if you keep or have a tight hold on something, you hold it firmly:
His mother kept a tight hold on his hand.

5. STRICT controlling something very strictly or firmly:
The government is keeping tight control on immigration.
keep a tight grip/hold/rein on something (=control it very firmly)
The former dictator still keeps a tight grip on power.
Anna was determined to keep a tight hold on her feelings.
Security is always tight for the opening day of parliament.
run/keep a tight ship (=manage a company, organization etc strictly and effectively)

6. LITTLE MONEY if money is tight, you do not have enough of it
money is tight/things are tight
Money was tight and he needed a job badly.
As you know, I run the magazine on a pretty tight budget.

7. LITTLE TIME if time is tight, it is difficult for you to do everything you need to do in the time available:
Time is tight, and she has another meeting to go to this afternoon.
We should arrive on time, but it’ll be tight.
As usual, his schedule on Saturday was tight (=he had arranged to do several things in a short time).
I'm working to a very tight deadline (=I have to finish a piece of work very quickly).

8. LITTLE SPACE if space is tight, there is only just enough space to fit something into a place
be a tight squeeze/fit
Six in the car will be a tight squeeze.

9. NOT GENEROUS informal not generous, or trying hard to avoid spending money:
Don’t be so tight!

10. CLOSE TOGETHER placed or standing closely together:
The animal’s body was curled up in a tight little ball.
She wore her hair in a tight bun.

11. CLOSE RELATIONSHIP a tight group of people, countries etc have a close relationship with each other Synonym : tight-knit:
Together, the young film-makers formed a tight group.
the tight bonds that had grown between them

12. BEND/TURN a tight bend or turn is very curved and turns quickly in another direction:
Danny lost control on a tight bend, and the car ran off the road.

13. CHEST/STOMACH/THROAT if your chest, stomach, or throat feels tight, it feels painful and uncomfortable, because you are ill or worried:
Before she went on stage her chest felt tight and her throat hurt.

14. EXPRESSION/SMILE/VOICE a tight expression, smile, or voice shows that you are annoyed or worried Synonym : tight-lipped:
‘Look, I’m sorry ...,’ she said, forcing a tight smile.

15. DIFFICULT SITUATION in a tight corner/spot informal in a difficult situation:
He’s a good man to have around if ever you’re in a tight corner.
‘Did something go wrong?’ ‘Let’s just say I got into a bit of a tight spot.’

16. PLAY/PERFORMANCE playing a piece of music or giving a performance very exactly and well, without any pauses or mistakes:
The band gave a really tight performance.
a tight, well-rehearsed production

17. GAME/COMPETITION a tight game, competition etc is one in which the teams, players etc play equally well, and it is not easy to win:
The opening quarter of the game was very tight.

18. DRUNK [not before noun] old-fashioned informal drunk
—tightly adverb:
Marie held the baby tightly in her arms.
—tightness noun [uncountable]
⇒ airtight, watertight

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. tight² adverb
[Word Family: adverb: tight, tightly; verb: tighten; noun: tightness; adjective: tight]
very firmly or closely Synonym : tightly:
Hold tight to the handrail!
I kept my eyes tight shut.
⇒ sit tight at sit(8), ⇒ sleep tight at sleep¹(4)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

tight
adj., adv.
I. not loose
VERBS be, feel, look, seem | become, get, go Those jeans have got too tight and I can't wear them any more. The rope suddenly went tight.
hold (on) ‘Hold tight!’ She increased her grip.
clamp sth, clench sth, close sth, draw sth, pull sth, shut sth, stretch sth, tie sth His jaw was clenched tight. Every muscle in her face was drawn tight. Shut your eyes tight. The cloth was stretched tight over the frame.
clutch sth, grip sth, hold sth, keep sth He held his children tight. Keep the rope tight.
ADV. extremely, really, very | a bit, fairly, pretty, quite, rather, reasonably | enough You didn't tie it tight enough.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

tight
II. with not much time/money to spare
VERBS be, look, seem | get I think we'd better leave?time's getting very tight.
ADV. extremely, particularly, really, very | a bit, fairly, pretty, rather

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

tight
III. controlled very strictly
VERBS be, seem | become | remain Security at the airport remains tight.
ADV. extremely, really, very | increasingly | fairly, pretty, quite | enough Are the controls tight enough?

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

strict a strict order or rule is one that must be obeyed:
There are strict rules about keeping tax records.
He had strict instructions to return the key to me.
tight tight controls or limits are very strict about what is allowed and what is not allowed:
The report recommends tighter controls on the advertising of alcohol.
There are tight regulations governing waste disposal.
tough tough laws or rules are very strict:
They want tougher laws against drinking and driving.
The federal government is introducing tough new rules on immigration.
harsh harsh punishments or laws are very severe, often too severe:
There are harsh penalties for drug trafficking.
The government has brought in harsh measures to combat the rioting taking place in many cities.
stringent controlling what people can do with rules that have very high standards:
There are now stringent controls on pollution from all power stations.
stringent new food safety regulations

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

strict expecting people to obey rules or to do what you say – used especially about parents, teachers, or organizations:
Our teachers were very strict.
Most schools are quite strict about the way students dress.
firm showing that you are in control of the situation and will not change your opinion, especially when you are telling someone what to do:
You have to be firm with young children.
I’ll be firm with him and tell him he can’t have any more money.
tough determined that your orders or decisions will be obeyed, especially in order to make sure that a situation improves – used especially when you think that someone is right to be strict:
We need a government that is tough on crime.
She can be quite tough with her students, but they respect her for it.
The chancellor has got to be tough and keep government spending down.
stern strict in a serious, disapproving, and rather unfriendly way:
Her grandfather was a stern man who rarely smiled.
Sheila walked into the museum, under the stern gaze of the curator.
harsh punishing or criticizing someone in a way that seems very severe, often too severe:
Don’t be too harsh on her – she’s only a child.
It may seem harsh to punish him, but he has to learn that this kind of behaviour is unacceptable.
Her reaction to the child’s bad behaviour was unnecessarily harsh.
authoritarian disapproving very strict about forcing people to obey rules or laws, and punishing them very severely if they fail to do this – used about people and governments:
Her father was very authoritarian and insisted on total obedience.
an authoritarian government
tight tight controls or limits are very strict about what is allowed and what is not allowed:
The report recommends tighter controls on the advertising of alcohol.
There are tight regulations governing waste disposal.
stringent controlling what people can do with rules that have very high standards:
There are now stringent controls on pollution from all power stations.
stringent new food safety regulations

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

tight
taɪt
See: sit tight

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲