tighten up (on something)
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tighten — UK [ˈtaɪt(ə)n] / US or tighten up UK / US verb Word forms tighten : present tense I/you/we/they tighten he/she/it tightens present participle tightening past tense tightened past participle tightened Word forms tighten up : present tense… … English dictionary
tighten — tight|en [ taıtn ] verb ** 1. ) transitive to turn something such as a screw or cover until it is tight and you cannot turn it any more 2. ) transitive to pull something such as a rope or belt until it is straighter or fits more tightly around… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
tighten the screws — To increase pressure (esp on someone to do something) • • • Main Entry: ↑tight * * * tighten the screws informal : to put more pressure on someone or something to do something We need to tighten the screws on people who ve been evading the tax. • … Useful english dictionary
tighten the screws on something — tighten the screws on (someone/something) to make it harder for someone to do something. Government agencies need to tighten the screws on illegal immigrants. We are putting the screws on that country to end its history of helping terrorists.… … New idioms dictionary
tighten the screws on someone — tighten the screws on (someone/something) to make it harder for someone to do something. Government agencies need to tighten the screws on illegal immigrants. We are putting the screws on that country to end its history of helping terrorists.… … New idioms dictionary
tighten the screws on — (someone/something) to make it harder for someone to do something. Government agencies need to tighten the screws on illegal immigrants. We are putting the screws on that country to end its history of helping terrorists. Usage notes: sometimes… … New idioms dictionary
tighten one's belt — {v. phr.} To live on less money than usual; use less food and other things. * /When father lost his job we had to tighten our belts./ Often used in the expression tighten one s belt another notch . * /When the husband lost his job, the Smiths had … Dictionary of American idioms
tighten one's belt — {v. phr.} To live on less money than usual; use less food and other things. * /When father lost his job we had to tighten our belts./ Often used in the expression tighten one s belt another notch . * /When the husband lost his job, the Smiths had … Dictionary of American idioms
tighten — UK US /ˈtaɪtən/ verb [I or T] ► (also tighten up) GOVERNMENT, LAW to make a rule, system, or law stronger and more difficult to ignore: tighten controls/rules/regulation »There were renewed calls to tighten controls on imported products. ►… … Financial and business terms
tighten — tight|en [ˈtaıtn] v also tighten up 1.) [T] to close or fasten something firmly by turning it ≠ ↑loosen ▪ Tighten the screws firmly. ▪ I d put the new tyre on, but I hadn t tightened up the wheel. 2.) [I and T] if you tighten a rope, wire etc, or … Dictionary of contemporary English
