{v.} To connect with something else; make a connection for. — Often used with "with". •/The teacher tied in what she said with last week’s
lesson./ •/The English teacher sometimes gives compositions that tie in
with things we are studying in other classes./ •/The detectives tied in the
fingerprints on the man’s gun with those found on the safe, so they knew that
he was the thief./
[tie-in]
{n.} A connection; a point of meeting. •/John’s essay on
World War II provides a perfect tie-in with his earlier work on World War I./
[tie in knots]
{v. phr.} To make (someone) very nervous or worried.
•/The thought of having her tooth pulled tied Joan in knots./ •/The
little boy’s experience with the kidnapper tied him in knots and it was hard
for him to sleep well for a long time./
[tie into]
See: LACE INTO.
[tie one’s hands]
{v. phr.} To make (a person) unable to do anything. — Usually used in the passive. •/Since Mary would not tell her mother what
was bothering her, her mother’s hands were tied./ •/Charles wanted to help
John get elected president of the class, but his promise to another boy tied
his hands./ •/Father hoped Jim would not quit school, but his hands were
tied; Jim was old enough to quit if he wanted to./
[tie the knot]
{v. phr.}, {informal} To get married; also to
perform a wedding ceremony. •/Diane and Bill tied the knot yesterday./
•/The minister tied the knot for Diane and Bill yesterday./
[tie up]
{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./
[tie-up]
{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./
[tight]
See: SIT TIGHT.
[tight end]
{n.} An end in football who plays close to the tackle in
the line. •/The tight end is used to catch passes but most often to block./
Contrast: SPLIT END.