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Definition of tie up phrasal verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

tie up

phrasal verb
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tie up | tie something up
  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 something with a knot; to be closed or fastened with a knot
    • to tie up a garbage bag
tie somebody up
  1. to tie somebody’s arms and legs tightly so that they cannot move or escape
    • The gang tied up a security guard.
  2. [usually passive] to keep somebody busy so that they have no time for other things
    • I'm tied up in a meeting until 3.
tie something up
  1. to attach an animal to something with a rope, chain, etc.
    • He left his dog tied up to a tree.
  2. [usually passive] to connect or link something to something else
    • Her behaviour is tied up with her feelings of guilt.
    related noun tie-up
  3. be tied up in something
     (of money) to be invested so that it is not easily available for use
    • Most of the capital is tied up in property.
  4. to deal with all the final details of something
    • We are hoping to tie up the deal by tomorrow.
    • I went into the office for an hour to tie up any loose ends (= finish remaining small jobs).
See tie up in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

Nearby words

ripple effect
noun
 
 
From the Topic
Change, cause and effect
C2
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