midas

*tight as a drum 

1. stretched tight. (*Also: as ~.) Julia stretched the upholstery fabric over the seat of the chair until it was as tight as a drum. The skin on his scalp is tight as a drum.

2. sealed tight. (*Also: as ~.) Now that I've caulked all the windows, the house should be tight as a drum. Your butterfly died because the jar is as tight as a drum.

3. and *tight as Midas's fist very stingy. (*Also: as ~.) He won't contribute a cent. He's as tight as a drum. Old Mr. Robinson is tight as Midas's fist. Won't spend money on anything.

See also: drum, tight

have the Midas touch

Fig. to have the ability to be successful, especially the ability to make money easily. (From the name of a legendary king whose touch turned everything to gold.) Bob is a merchant banker and really has the Midas touch. The poverty-stricken boy turned out to have the Midas touch and was a millionaire by the time he was twenty-five.

See also: have, touch

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the Midas touch

the ability to make a lot of money

Usage notes: Midas was a king in Greek stories who had the power to turn anything he touched into gold.

Profits are down - has that 80s entrepreneur lost his Midas touch?

See also: touch