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general::
Phrase(s): tighten up
1. Lit. [for something] to get tighter. • The door hinges began to tighten up, making the door hard to open and close. • His grip around the handle tightened up and he refused to let go. 2. Fig. [for someone or a group] to become miserly. • The government tightened up and our budget was slashed. • We almost went out of business when we couldn’t get credit because the bank tightened up. 3. Fig. [for someone or something] to become more restrictive. • The boss is tightening up on new hiring. • There are more rules and the people who enforce them are tightening up., Phrase(s): tighten something up
to make something tighter. • Tighten your seat belt up. It looks loose. • Can you tighten up all the bolts?
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs