tie up
To fasten something with rope, or to keep something so busy it can't be used.
Meanings
To fasten or bind someone or something with rope, string, or cord.
"The pirates tied up their prisoner and left him in the hold."
"They tied him up and threw him in the back of the van."
— Common crime-genre usage; widely attested in news reports and fiction.
To block, occupy, or make something unavailable for other uses.
"The accident tied up traffic on the motorway for three hours."
"My capital is all tied up in real estate right now."
— Common business/financial journalism usage.
To finalize or complete the remaining details of something.
"We just need to tie up a few loose ends before we can sign the contract."
To moor a boat or ship to a dock or fixed point.
"They tied up the sailboat at the marina and went to find a restaurant."
Very common in business English ('tie up loose ends'). Also used in traffic contexts ('traffic is tied up'). In crime contexts, it means to physically bind someone. The past participle 'tied up' is frequently used as an adjective meaning 'busy' or 'unavailable'.
Commonly used with
Forms
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