1
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Phrase(s): tie someone or something up
1. Lit. to bind someone or something securely. • The sheriff tied the crooks up and took them to a cell. • He tied up the bandit. • I tied the package up and put a label on it. 2. Fig. to keep someone or something busy or occupied. • Sally tied up the photocopy machine all afternoon. • The meeting tied me up all afternoon., Phrase(s): tie up (some place)
[for a skipper] to moor a ship or boat some place. • We need to tie up some place for the night. • The captain tied up at the dock and sent the first mate for fuel., Phrase(s): tie something up
1. Lit. to tie strings or cords on something in order to close or contain it. • Please tie this package up securely so I can mail it. • Tie up your shoes! 2. Fig. to conclude and finalize something. (See also tie someone or something up.) • Let’s try to tie up this deal by Thursday. • We’ll manage to tie our business up by Wednesday at the latest. 3. Fig. to block or impede something, such as traffic or progress. • The stalled bus tied traffic up for over an hour. • The stalled bus tied up traffic.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
1. Fasten securely; also, moor a ship. For example, Can you help me tie up these bundles? or The forecast was terrible, so we decided to tie up at the dock and wait out the storm. The first usage dates from the early 1500s, the nautical usage from the mid-1800s. 2. Impede the progress of, block, as in The accident tied up traffic for hours. [Late 1500s] 3. Keep occupied, engage, as in She was tied up in a meeting all morning. [Late 1800s] 4. Make funds or property inaccessible for other uses, as in Her cash is tied up in government bonds. [Early 1800s]
American Heritage Idioms