tie

tie¹ W3S2 [taı] v past tense and past participle tied present participle tying

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1¦(string/rope)¦

2¦(game/competition)¦

3 be tied to something

4 be tied to/by something

5 tie the knot

6 tie yourself (up) in knots

7 tie one on

Phrasal verbs

　tie somebody down

　tie in with something

　tie up

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[: Old English; Origin: tigan]

1.) ¦(STRING/ROPE)¦

a) [T]

to fasten things together or hold them in a particular position using a piece of string, rope etc

≠ ↑untie tie sth to/behind/onto etc sth

▪ Tie this label to your suitcase.

tie sb to sth

▪ They tied him to a tree and beat him up.

tie sth together (with sth)

▪ I kept all his letters tied together with a ribbon.

tie sb's hands/arms/legs/feet

▪ One of them tied her hands behind her back.

▪ I tie my hair back when I'm jogging.

b) [T]

to fasten something around, over etc something else and tie the ends together

≠ ↑untie tie sth around/over/under etc sth

▪ He had only a towel tied around his waist.

▪ She tied a scarf over her head.

c) [T]

to make a knot in a piece of string, rope etc, for example to fasten shoes or other clothes

▪ Can you tie your shoelaces by yourself?

tie a knot/bow

▪ She pulled the ribbon tightly and tied a bow.

d)

if a piece of clothing ties in a particular place, you fasten it there using a belt, ↑bow etc

▪ This dress ties at the back.

2.) ¦(GAME/COMPETITION)¦ [I]

[i]also be tied

if two players, teams etc tie or are tied in a game or competition, they finish it with an equal number of points

tie with

▪ At the end of the season, we were tied with the Tigers.

tie for first/second etc place

▪ Woosnam and Lyle tied for fourth place on 264.

3.) be tied to sth

to be related to something and dependent on it

▪ The flat is tied to the job.

▪ Interest rates are tied to the rate of inflation.

4.) be tied to/by sth

to be restricted by a particular situation, job etc, so that you cannot do exactly what you want

▪ Many women felt tied to the house.

be tied to doing sth

▪ I didn't want to be tied to commuting to London.

▪ With children, you're tied by school holidays.

5.) tie the knot informal

to get married

6.) tie yourself (up) in knots informal

to become very upset because you are confused, nervous, or worried

7.) tie one on

AmE informal to get drunk

→sb's hands are tied at ↑hand¹ (43)

tie down [tie sb down] phr v

to restrict someone's freedom to do what they want to do

▪ She didn't want to be tied down by a full-time job.

tie somebody down to

▪ Are you ready to be tied down to a wife and children?

tie in with [tie in with sth] phr v

1.) to be similar to another idea, statement etc, so that they seem to be true

▪ Her description tied in with that of the other witness.

2.) also be tied in with sth

to be related in some way to something else

▪ How does all this tie in with their long-term aims?

3.) to happen at the same time as something else

▪ The book was published to tie in with the TV series.

tie up phr v

1.) ¦(PERSON)¦

tie sb<=>up

to tie someone's arms, legs etc so that they cannot move

▪ The intruders tied Kurt up and left him.

2.) ¦(OBJECT)¦

tie sth<=>up

to fasten something together, using string, rope etc

▪ He tied up all the old newspapers.

3.) ¦(BUSY)¦

be tied up

to be very busy, so that you cannot do anything else

▪ I can't see you tomorrow - I'll be tied up all day.

4.) ¦(TRAFFIC/PHONE/COURT ETC)¦

tie sth<=>up

especially AmE to block a system or use it so much that other people cannot use it or it does not work effectively

▪ Don't tie up the phone lines making personal calls.

▪ Protesters tied up the traffic for three hours today.

5.) ¦(MONEY)¦

be tied up

if your money is tied up in something, it is all being used for that thing and is not available for anything else

be tied up in

▪ My money's all tied up in the house.

6.) ¦(ARRANGEMENTS)¦

tie sth<=>up

to finish arranging all the details of something such as an agreement or a plan

▪ We'd better tie up the details with a solicitor.

7.) be tied up with sth

to be very closely related to something

▪ The shortage of teachers is tied up with the issue of pay.

8.) tie up loose ends

to do the things that are necessary in order to finish a piece of work

▪ I need to tie up a few loose ends before I go on vacation.

9.) ¦(ANIMAL)¦

tie sth<=>up

to tie an animal to something with a rope, chain etc

tie something<=>up to

▪ She left the dog tied up to a tree.

10.)¦(BOAT)¦

to tie a boat to something with a rope, chain etc

▪ We tied up alongside a barge.

tie sth<=>up

▪ There was a boat tied up at the jetty.

tie ²

tie² W3S3 n

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1¦(men's clothes)¦

2¦(connection/relationship)¦

3¦(result)¦

4¦(for closing something)¦

5¦(game)¦

6¦(prevent you from doing something)¦

7¦(railway)¦

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1.) ¦(MEN'S CLOTHES)¦

a long narrow piece of cloth tied in a knot around the neck, worn by men

▪ I wear a shirt and tie at work.

→↑black-tie, ↑bow tie

2.) ¦(CONNECTION/RELATIONSHIP)¦ [usually plural]

a strong relationship between people, groups, or countries

close/strong ties

▪ the importance of strong family ties

tie between/with

▪ close ties between the two countries

economic/diplomatic/personal etc ties

▪ Japan's strong economic ties with Taiwan

the ties of marriage/friendship/love etc

→↑old school tie

3.) ¦(RESULT)¦ [usually singular]

the result of a game, competition, or election when two or more people or teams get the same number of points, votes etc

British Equivalent: draw

▪ The match ended in a tie.

4.) ¦(FOR CLOSING SOMETHING)¦

a piece of string, wire etc used to fasten or close something such as a bag

5.) ¦(GAME)¦

BrE one game, especially of football, that is part of a larger competition

tie against

▪ England's World Cup tie against Argentina

first round/second round etc tie

home/away tie

6.) ¦(PREVENT YOU FROM DOING SOMETHING)¦

something that means you must stay in one place, job etc or prevents you from being free to do what you want

▪ If you enjoy travelling, young children can be a tie.

7.) ¦(RAILWAY)¦

AmE a heavy piece of wood or metal supporting a railway track

British Equivalent: sleeper