3 VERB When you tidy a place such as a room or cupboard, you make it neat by putting things in their proper places. □ [V n] She made her bed, and tidied her room.
4 ADJ [ADJ n] A tidy amount of money is a large amount. [INFORMAL ] □ The opportunities are there to make a tidy profit.
▸ tidy away PHRASAL VERB When you tidy something away , you put it in something else so that it is not in the way. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V n P ] The large log basket can be used to tidy toys away. □ [V P n] When they'd gone, McMinn tidied away the glasses and tea-cups.
▸ tidy up PHRASAL VERB When you tidy up or tidy a place up , you put things back in their proper places so that everything is neat. □ [V n P ] I really must start tidying the place up. □ [V P ] He tried to tidy up, not wanting the maid to see the disarray. □ [V P n] Anne made the beds and tidied up the nursery.
tie ◆◆◇ /ta I / (ties , tying , tied )
1 VERB If you tie two things together or tie them, you fasten them together with a knot. □ [V n adv/prep] He tied the ends of the plastic bag together. □ [V n] Mr Saunders tied her hands and feet.
2 VERB If you tie something or someone in a particular place or position, you put them there and fasten them using rope or string. □ [V n + to ] He had tied the dog to one of the trees near the canal. □ [V n prep/adv] He tied her hands behind her back.
3 VERB If you tie a piece of string or cloth around something or tie something with a piece of string or cloth, you put the piece of string or cloth around it and fasten the ends together. □ [V n prep/adv] She tied her scarf over her head. □ [V n + with ] Roll the meat and tie it with string. □ [V -ed + with ] Dad handed me a big box wrapped in gold foil and tied with a red ribbon.
4 VERB If you tie a knot or bow in something or tie something in a knot or bow, you fasten the ends together. □ [V n] He took a short length of rope and swiftly tied a slip knot. □ [V n + in ] She tied a knot in her scarf. □ [V -ed] She wore a checked shirt tied in a knot above the navel.
5 VERB When you tie something or when something ties , you close or fasten it using a bow or knot. □ [V n] He pulled on his heavy suede shoes and tied the laces. □ [V ] …a long white thing around his neck that tied in front in a floppy bow.
6 N‑COUNT A tie is a long narrow piece of cloth that is worn round the neck under a shirt collar and tied in a knot at the front. Ties are worn mainly by men. □ Jason had taken off his jacket and loosened his tie.
7 VERB [usu passive] If one thing is tied to another or two things are tied , the two things have a close connection or link. □ [be V -ed + to ] Their cancers are not so clearly tied to radiation exposure. □ [be V -ed] My social life and business life are closely tied.
8 VERB [usu passive] If you are tied to a particular place or situation, you are forced to accept it and cannot change it. □ [be V -ed + to ] They had children and were consequently tied to the school holidays.
9 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Ties are the connections you have with people or a place. □ [+ to ] Quebec has always had particularly close ties to France.
10 N‑COUNT Railroad ties are large heavy beams that support the rails of a railway track. [AM ] in BRIT, use sleepers 11 VERB If two people tie in a competition or game or if they tie with each other, they have the same number of points or the same degree of success. □ [V ] Both teams had tied on points and goal difference. □ [V + with ] We tied with Spain in fifth place. ● N‑COUNT Tie is also a noun. □ The first game ended in a tie.
12 N‑COUNT In sport, a tie is a match that is part of a competition. The losers leave the competition and the winners go on to the next round. [mainly BRIT ] □ They'll meet the winners of the first round tie.
13 → see also black tie , bow tie , old school tie , tied
14 your hands are tied → see hand ➊
15 to tie the knot → see knot
16 to tie yourself in knots → see knot
▸ tie down PHRASAL VERB A person or thing that ties you down restricts your freedom in some way. □ [V n P ] We'd agreed from the beginning not to tie each other down. □ [be V -ed P ] The reason he didn't have a family was that he didn't want to be tied down.
▸ tie in with or tie up with PHRASAL VERB If something such as an idea or fact ties in with or ties up with something else, it is consistent with it or connected with it. □ [V P P n] Our wedding had to tie in with David leaving the army. □ [be V -ed P P n] I've got a feeling that the death may be tied up with his visit in some way.
▸ tie up
1 PHRASAL VERB When you tie something up , you fasten string or rope round it so that it is firm or secure. □ [V P n] He tied up the bag and took it outside. [Also V n P ]
2 PHRASAL VERB If someone ties another person up , they fasten ropes or chains around them so that they cannot move or escape. □ [V n P ] Masked robbers broke in, tied him up, and made off with $8,000. □ [V P n] At about 5 a.m. they struck again in Fetcham, tying up a couple and ransacking their house.