tie up

verb

1. secure with or as if with ropes (Freq. 3)

-

tie down the prisoners

-

tie up the old newspapers and bring them to the recycling shed

• Syn: ↑tie down, ↑bind, ↑truss

• Derivationally related forms: ↑bindable (for: ↑bind)

• Hypernyms: ↑restrain, ↑confine, ↑hold

• Hyponyms: ↑chain up, ↑faggot, ↑fagot, ↑faggot up, ↑hog-tie

• Entailment: ↑fasten, ↑fix, ↑secure

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s something

-

Somebody ——s somebody

-

They want to tie up the prisoners

2. invest so as to make unavailable for other purposes

-

All my money is tied up in long-term investments

• Hypernyms: ↑invest, ↑put, ↑commit, ↑place

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s something

3. restrain from moving or operating normally

-

Traffic is tied up for miles around the bridge where the accident occurred

• Derivationally related forms: ↑tie-up

• Hypernyms:

↑obstruct, ↑obturate, ↑impede, ↑occlude, ↑jam, ↑block, ↑close up

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s something

-

Something ——s something

4. finish the last row

• Syn: ↑bind off

• Topics: ↑knit, ↑knitting, ↑knitwork

• Hypernyms: ↑tie, ↑bind

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s something

5. secure in or as if in a berth or dock

-

tie up the boat

• Syn: ↑moor, ↑berth

• Derivationally related forms: ↑berth (for: ↑berth), ↑mooring (for: ↑moor)

• Hypernyms: ↑fasten, ↑fix, ↑secure

• Hyponyms: ↑wharf

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s something

* * *

tie up [phrasal verb]

1 tie up or tie (something) up or tie up (something) : to become attached or to attach (something) to a fixed object with a string, rope, etc.

They tied (the boat) up and jumped out.

The ferry ties up at the south slip.

2 tie (something) up or tie up (something)

2 a : to deal with (something) in order to complete something

The project is almost finished, but we still have a few final details to tie up. = We still have to tie up some loose ends.

The writer ties up all the loose ends at the end of the story.

2 b US : to prevent the use or progress of (something)

He tied up the phone for an hour. [=he used the phone for an hour and other people could not use it]

Traffic was tied up [=backed up] for hours/miles.

3 tie up (money) in (something) or tie (money) up in (something) : to invest (money) in (something) in a way that prevents it from being used for some other purpose

They tied up all of their money in their new business.

— usually used as (be) tied up in

The money was tied up in stocks.

4 tie up with (something) or be tied up with (something) : to be connected or related to (something)

Today's lesson tied up with what was taught yesterday.

My life is tied up with hers.

5 tie (someone) up or tie up (someone)

5 a : to tie rope, tape, etc., around the body, arms, or legs of (someone) in order to keep that person from moving or escaping

The robbers tied up the clerk.

5 b : to prevent (someone) from doing other things or from going to a particular place

Meetings tied me up for most of the afternoon.

— usually used as (be) tied up

She was tied up in traffic.

I'd like to help but I'm a bit tied up at the moment.

see also ↑tie 1, 2 (above), 1, ↑tie-up

• • •

Main Entry: ↑tie

* * *

ˌtie ˈup | ˌtie sthˈup derived

1. to attach a boat to a fixed object with a rope

•

We tied up alongside the quay.

•

We tied the boat up.

2. to close sth with a knot; to be closed or fastened with a knot

•

to tie up a garbage bag

Main entry: ↑tie_derived