tighten
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++tight·en /ˈtaɪtn/ ●●○ (also tighten up) verb 1 [transitive]TIGHT to close or fasten something firmly by turning it 使变紧 OPP loosen Tighten the screws firmly. 把螺丝拧紧。 I’d put the new tyre on, but I hadn’t tightened up the wheel. 我把新轮胎装上了，但没有上紧轮子。2 [intransitive, transitive]TIGHT if you tighten a rope, wire etc, or if it tightens, it is stretched or pulled so that it becomes tight 绷紧，拉紧 When you tighten guitar strings, the note gets higher. 把吉他的弦紧一紧，音就会变高。 The rope tightened around his body. 他身上的绳子绷紧了。3 HBHHURT/CAUSE PAIN[intransitive, transitive] to become stiff or make a part of your body become stiff （使）〔身体的某一部分〕变得僵硬，变得僵直 OPP relax His mouth tightened into a thin, angry line. 他的嘴抿成了一条细线，一副生气的样子。 Tighten up the muscles of both arms. 绷紧两臂肌肉。4 tighten your grip/hold on something a) to control a place or situation more strictly 加强对某事物的控制 Rebel forces have tightened their hold on the capital. 叛军加强了对首都的控制。 b) to hold someone or something more firmly 更紧地抓住〔某人或某物〕 Sarah tightened her grip on my arm. 萨拉把我的手臂抓得更紧了。5 [transitive]STRICT to make a rule, law, or system more strict 加紧，加强〔规则、法律或制度〕 OPP relax Efforts to tighten the rules have failed. 严格规章制度的努力失败了。tighten up on something a range of measures to tighten up on illegal share dealing 一系列严格控制非法股票交易的措施6 tighten your belt informalSPEND MONEY to try to spend less money than you used to 勒紧裤带，设法更节俭地过日子 Businesses were tightening their belts and cutting jobs. 企业都在勒紧裤带，削减工作岗位。7 tighten the screws (on somebody) informal to try to force someone to do something, by threatening them or making things difficult for them – used in news reports 胁迫，威逼（某人）；（对某人）采取更为严厉的措施〔用于新闻报道〕 Closing the border would tighten the screws on the terrorists. 封锁边境将使恐怖分子受到更为严厉的打击。8 [intransitive] American English if a race or competition tightens, the distance between the competitors becomes smaller 〔比赛〕变得激烈[紧张] He expects the presidential race to tighten. 他预计总统角逐还会更激烈。9 tighten up phrasal verb if a team or group tightens up, they start working together more effectively 加紧，加强tighten something ↔ up We have tightened up the defence and are winning matches as a result. 我们加强了防守，因此目前一直处于领先。→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
tighten• I think the fan belt needs to be tightened.• The rope tightened and Steve was pulled off balance.• The bill would tighten existing gun-control regulations.• Judy's lips tightened in a thin smile.• As though to tighten it a hand came to rest on hers.• As the investigation continued into June, Dunlap could feel the vise tighten, squeezing out any possibility of hope.• They believe moves to tighten the gun laws even further could result in even more firearms flooding the black market.• She bent down and tightened the muzzle on the dog.• He changed the spanner for one the correct size and tightened the nut.• I need to tighten the screw on my glasses.• Tighten the screws gradually until the wheel is firmly in place.• The estate owners tightened their systems, with a view to greater productivity - new breeds, crops, implements and methods.• I felt my stomach tighten, unreason bubbling, rising.• Tighten up the lid on that juice before you put it away.• But Hill hurt a hamstring on the return, and had to leave the game after his leg tightened up.• The cross-fence would be finished sometime today, once we got all the wires pulled out and tightened up.• Tighten your stomach muscles and hold for three seconds.tighten up on something• Every now and then, his knees tighten up on him.• Thus, in times of slack demand it is not uncommon to find managements tightening up on industrial discipline.• Green wants teachers to tighten up on student attendance.tight·en verbChineseSyllable
to by something close or fasten turning it firmly Corpus
tighten
tight‧en /ˈtaɪtn/
(also tighten up) verb1. [transitive] to close or fasten something firmly by turning it
OPP loosen:
Tighten the screws firmly.
I’d put the new tyre on, but I hadn’t tightened up the wheel.
2. [intransitive and transitive] if you tighten a rope, wire etc, or if it tightens, it is stretched or pulled so that it becomes tight:
When you tighten guitar strings, the note gets higher.
The rope tightened around his body.
3. [intransitive and transitive] to become stiff or make a part of your body become stiff
OPP relax:
His mouth tightened into a thin, angry line.
Tighten up the muscles of both arms.
4. tighten your grip/hold on something
a. to control a place or situation more strictly:
Rebel forces have tightened their hold on the capital.
b. to hold someone or something more firmly:
Sarah tightened her grip on my arm.
5. [transitive] to make a rule, law, or system more strict
OPP relax:
Efforts to tighten the rules have failed.
tighten up on something
a range of measures to tighten up on illegal share dealing
6. tighten your belt informal to try to spend less money than you used to:
Businesses were tightening their belts and cutting jobs.
7. tighten the screws (on somebody) informal to try to force someone to do something, by threatening them or making things difficult for them – used in news reports:
Closing the border would tighten the screws on the terrorists.
8. [intransitive] American English if a race or competition tightens, the distance between the competitors becomes smaller:
He expects the presidential race to tighten.
tighten up phrasal verb
if a team or group tightens up, they start working together more effectively
tighten something ↔ up
We have tightened up the defence and are winning matches as a result.
tight‧en /ˈtaɪtn/
(also tighten up) verb1. [transitive] to close or fasten something firmly by turning it OPP loosen:
2. [intransitive and transitive] if you tighten a rope, wire etc, or if it tightens, it is stretched or pulled so that it becomes tight:
3. [intransitive and transitive] to become stiff or make a part of your body become stiff
OPP relax:
4. tighten your grip/hold on something
a. to control a place or situation more strictly:
b. to hold someone or something more firmly:
5. [transitive] to make a rule, law, or system more strict
OPP relax:
tighten up on something
6. tighten your belt informal to try to spend less money than you used to:
7. tighten the screws (on somebody) informal to try to force someone to do something, by threatening them or making things difficult for them – used in news reports:
8. [intransitive] American English if a race or competition tightens, the distance between the competitors becomes smaller:
tighten up phrasal verb
if a team or group tightens up, they start working together more effectively
tighten something ↔ up
save to keep money instead of spending it, often in order to buy a particular thing 常指为了买某物而攒钱、储蓄 ：◆ I'm saving for a new car. 我正攒钱想买辆新车。 budget to be careful about the amount of money you spend; to plan to spend an amount of money for a particular purpose 指谨慎花钱、把…编入预算 ：◆ If we budget carefully we'll be able to afford the trip. 我们精打细算一点，就能够负担这次旅行。 economize to use less money, time, etc. than you normally use 指节省、节约、节俭 tighten your belt ( to spend less money because there is less availablerather
指勒紧腰带省吃俭用 ：◆ With the price increases, we are all having to tighten our belts. 由于物价上涨，我们都只好勒紧裤腰带了。
Patterns
to save up/budget for sthto have to save/budget/economize/tighten our beltsto try to/manage to save/budget/economize
