tie-up

[ tahy-uhp ]

/ ˈtaɪˌʌp /

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See synonyms for tie-up on Thesaurus.com

noun

a temporary stoppage or slowing of business, traffic, telephone service, etc., as due to a strike, storm, or accident.

the act or state of tying up or the state of being tied up.

an involvement, connection, or entanglement: the tie-up between the two companies; his tie-up with the crime syndicate.

a mooring place; place where a boat may be tied up.

a cow barn with stalls.

a stall allotted to each cow in such a barn.

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Origin of tie-up

First recorded in 1705–15; noun use of verb phrase tie up

Words nearby tie-up

tier table, tie tack, Tietê, tie the knot, tie, tied, tie-up, tiff, Tiffanie, tiffany, Tiffany glass, Tiffany setting

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use tie-up in a sentence

“I think for trans men who are dating every time they hook up they have another coming out,” Sandler said.
Grindr’s Trans Dating Problem|David Levesley|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In that photo, Merabet has a big smile that spreads across his whole face and lights up his eyes.
The Muslim Cop Killed by Terrorists|Michael Daly|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
We won't find out this season, though it comes up occasionally.
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Kickstarter is one start-up platform that seems to have realized the danger.
Design Your Own Dinosaur: The Era of Custom DNA|Justin Jones|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST

The most recent issue contains detailed instructions for building car bombs, and the magazine frequently draws up hit-lists.
U.S. Spies See Al Qaeda Fingerprints on Paris Massacre|Shane Harris, Nancy A. Youssef|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
What need to look to right or left when you are swallowing up free mile after mile of dizzying road?
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
Most of the men leaped up, caught hold of spears or knives, and rushed out.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
Some weeks after, the creditor chanced to be in Boston, and in walking up Tremont street, encountered his enterprising friend.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
In less than ten minutes, the bivouac was broken up, and our little army on the march.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
The bride elect rushes up to him, and so they both step down to the foot-lights.
Physiology of The Opera|John H. Swaby (AKA "Scrici")

British Dictionary definitions for tie-up

tie up

verb (adverb)

(tr) to attach or bind securely with or as if with string, rope, etc

to moor (a vessel)

(tr; often passive) to engage the attentions ofhe's tied up at the moment and can't see you

(tr; often passive) to conclude (the organization of something)the plans for the trip were tied up well in advance

to come or bring to a complete standstill

(tr) to invest or commit (funds, etc) and so make unavailable for other uses

(tr) to subject (property) to conditions that prevent sale, alienation, or other action

noun tie-up

a link or connection

mainly US and Canadian a standstill

mainly US and Canadian an informal term for traffic jam

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with tie-up

tie up

Fasten securely; also, moor a ship. For example, Can you help me tie up these bundles? or The forecast was terrible, so we decided to tie up at the dock and wait out the storm. The first usage dates from the early 1500s, the nautical usage from the mid-1800s.

Impede the progress of, block, as in The accident tied up traffic for hours. [Late 1500s]

Keep occupied, engage, as in She was tied up in a meeting all morning. [Late 1800s]

Make funds or property inaccessible for other uses, as in Her cash is tied up in government bonds. [Early 1800s]