| 单词 | tighten |
| 释义 | tighten (taɪtən ) Word forms: tightens , tightening , tightened 1. verb B2 If you tighten your grip on something, or if your grip tightens, you hold the thing more firmly or securely. Luke answered by tightening his grip on her shoulder. [VERB noun] Her arms tightened about his neck in gratitude. [VERB preposition] Stefano's grip tightened and his tone became colder. [VERB] Synonyms: close, narrow, strengthen, squeeze 2. verb B2 If you tighten a rope or chain, or if it tightens, it is stretched or pulled hard until it is straight. The anchorman flung his whole weight back, tightening the rope. [VERB noun] The cables tightened and he was lifted gradually from the deck. [VERB] Synonyms: stretch, strain, tense, tauten 3. verb If a government or organization tightens its grip on a group of people or an activity, or if its grip tightens, it begins to have more control over it. He plans to tighten his grip on the machinery of central government. [VERB noun] As the regime's grip on the mainland tightened, hundreds of thousands of people fled. [VERB] 4. verb B2 When you tighten a screw, nut, or other device, you turn it or move it so that it is more firmly in place or holds something more firmly. I used my thumbnail to tighten the screw on my lamp. [VERB noun] All the bolts were fully tightened. [VERB noun] Synonyms: fasten, secure, screw, fix Tighten up means the same as tighten. It's important to tighten up the wheels properly, otherwise they vibrate loose and fall off. [VERB PARTICLE noun] 5. verb If a part of your body tightens, the muscles in it become tense and stiff, for example because you are angry or afraid. Sofia's throat had tightened and she couldn't speak. [VERB] She saw his jaw tighten and his face lose its colour. [VERB] Synonyms: contract, narrow, constrict, become tight tightening uncountable noun ...a headache caused by tension which results in tightening of the muscles in the neck. [+ of] ...a slight tightening of the throat. 6. verb If someone in authority tightens a rule, a policy, or a system, they make it stricter or more efficient. The Government plans to tighten the economic sanctions currently in place. [VERB noun] They have tightened security along the border. [VERB noun] Take-off and landing procedures have been tightened after two jets narrowly escaped disaster. [be VERB-ed] Synonyms: increase, heighten, toughen (up), beef up [informal] Tighten up means the same as tighten. Until this week, every attempt to tighten up the law had failed. [VERB PARTICLE noun] He accused ministers of breaking election pledges to tighten up on tax fraud. [VERB PARTICLE + on] tightening uncountable noun ...the tightening of state control over press and broadcasting. [+ of] 7. to tighten your belt phrase If you have to tighten your belt, you have to spend less money and manage without things because you have less money than you used to have. Clearly, if you are spending more than your income, you'll need to tighten your belt. 8. to tighten the screw phrase If you turn or tighten the screw on someone, you increase the pressure which is already on them, for example by using threats, in order to force them to do a particular thing. Parisian taxi drivers are threatening to mount a blockade to turn the screw on the government. Phrasal verbs: tighten up 1. phrasal verb If a group, team, or organization tightens up, they make an effort to control what they are doing more closely, in order to become more efficient and successful. I want us to be a bit more sensible this time and tighten up. [VERB PARTICLE] 2. See also tighten [sense 4], tighten [sense 6] Idioms: tighten your belt to spend less and live more carefully because you have less money than you had before Clearly, if you are spending more than your income, you'll need to tighten your belt. Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers Collocations: tighten a budget If you're looking to tighten your budget, that's aplace to start. The Sun The sub-1,000-a-week rent bracket has recorded more demand recently as people have tightened their budget. Times, Sunday Times Consequently, they tightened the budgets of upcoming films to under 5 million dollars per film. Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0 New regulations to tighten control over the inflow of speculative capital were accompanied by an official statement referring to 'excessive growth in currency reserves'. Times, Sunday Times The bank had seemed to be recovering after big losses, having shut parts of its operation and tightened controls. Times, Sunday Times Customs officials have tightened controls over imported, refrigerated foods. Times,Sunday Times Tightening controls on housing associations makes them less appealing to developers, so sadly this may have a countereffect to building more homes. The Sun There have been moves to tighten controls on what advertisers can say and where. Times, Sunday Times Copper prices are also set to soar as disruption to production in some key mines tightens supply. Times, Sunday Times All of that ought to keep the glut to a minimum and, as traders anticipate market changes, prices should start to reflect a tightening supply. Times, Sunday Times That raised hopes of tightened supply and supported some beleaguered stocks. Times, Sunday Times There have also been signs of tightening supply. Times, Sunday Times Translations: Chinese: 弄紧 Japanese: 締める |
| 随便看 |
|
英语词典包含147115条英英释义在线翻译词条，基本涵盖了全部常用单词的英英翻译及用法，是英语学习的有利工具。