tighten (redirected from tightening)

tighten something on(to) something

to make something more tightly attached to something. Will you please tighten this nut onto the bolt? I tightened the lid on the pickle jar.

tighten something up

to make something tighter. Tighten your seat belt up. It looks loose. Can you tighten up all the bolts?

See also: up

tighten one's belt

Fig. to manage to spend less money; to use less of something. (See also take one's belt in (a notch).) Things are beginning to cost more and more. It looks like we'll all have to tighten our belts. Times are hard, and prices are high. I can tighten my belt for only so long.

See also: belt

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.

See also: up

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tighten your belt

to spend less than you did before because you have less money I've had to tighten my belt since I stopped working full-time.

See also: belt

tighten the reins

to start to control something or someone more carefully (often + on ) She has tightened the reins on her younger sons in an effort to curb their wild behaviour before it's too late.

See also: reins

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tighten your belt

to spend less money I've had to tighten my belt since I stopped working full time.

See also: belt

tighten the screws on somebody/something also put the screws on somebody/something

to make it harder for someone to do something Government agencies need to tighten the screws on illegal immigrants. We are putting the screws on that country to end its history of helping terrorists.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form put the screws to someone or something: The owners could really put the screws to the players.

See also: screw