tie up

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.

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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.

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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.

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tie up somebody also tie somebody up

to limit someone's ability to act I was tied up in meetings all morning. We were late because traffic tied us up for two hours!

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tie up something also tie something up

to limit the use of something All our savings are tied up in buying a house right now. My daughter can tie the phone up for hours.

See also: tie, up