tighten up
To make something more tight or strict so it works better.
Meanings
To make something physically more secure or firm by tightening it.
"The mechanic tightened up the loose screws on the bicycle frame."
To make rules, controls, or security measures stricter.
"The government plans to tighten up immigration laws following the report."
"We need to tighten up our border security."
— Common political rhetoric; widely attested in UK and US political speeches.
To improve the quality, discipline, or efficiency of something such as a performance or a team.
"The coach told the players they needed to tighten up their defensive play."
Used widely in both physical contexts (tighten up a screw) and figurative ones (tighten up security, tighten up your game). Common in sports commentary, business, and politics. The intransitive use ('the security tightened up') is also natural.
Commonly used with
Forms
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