tie
verb /taɪ/
/taɪ/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbspresent simple I / you / we / they tie | /taɪ/ /taɪ/ |
he / she / it ties | /taɪz/ /taɪz/ |
past simple tied | /taɪd/ /taɪd/ |
past participle tied | /taɪd/ /taɪd/ |
-ing form tying | /ˈtaɪɪŋ/ /ˈtaɪɪŋ/ |
- tie something + adv./prep. She tied the newspapers in a bundle.
- He had to tie her hands together.
- They tied him to a chair with cable.
- I tie back my hair when I'm cooking.
- The box was tied with plastic string.
- His hands were tied behind his back.
- tie something Shall I tie the package or tape it?
Homophones tide | tiedtide tied/taɪd//taɪd/- tide noun
- We'll swim back to the beach before the tide turns.
- tide verb
- Short-term loans are designed to tide borrowers over until their next payday.
- tied verb (past tense, past participle of tie)
- She tied her hair up with ribbon.
Extra Examples- Her hair was tied into a loose ponytail.
- The prisoners were tied hand and foot.
- A scarf was tied around her neck.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- firmly
- securely
- tightly
- …
- around
- round
- in(to)
- …
- She tied a label on to the suitcase.
- Anything which might be blown over was tied down or moved inside.
Extra Examples- Did you tie the balloons on tightly?
- I tied the bundle onto the end of the string.
- She tied the rope securely to a tree.
- He tied his bathrobe firmly around him.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- firmly
- securely
- tightly
- …
- around
- round
- in(to)
- …
- to tie a ribbon
- Can you help me tie my tie?
- Tie the cords neatly.
- Can you tie a bow tie?
- He tied his shoes (= the laces on his shoes) with a double knot.
- tie something up Tie up your shoelaces!
- tie something in something I tied a knot in the rope.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- firmly
- securely
- tightly
- …
- around
- round
- in(to)
- …
- [intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) to be closed or fastened with a knot, etc.
- The skirt ties at the waist.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- firmly
- securely
- tightly
- …
- around
- round
- in(to)
- …
- [transitive, usually passive] to connect or link somebody/something closely with somebody/something else
- be tied (to something/somebody) Pay increases are tied to inflation.
- Their company's future is closely tied to our own.
- The house is tied to the job, so we'll have to move when I retire.
Extra Examples- Production and consumption are inextricably tied together.
- You can't stay tied to her forever.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- closely
- intimately
- directly
- …
- to
- [transitive, usually passive] to limit somebody's freedom to act and make them unable to do everything they want to
- be tied (by something) to be tied by a contract
- be tied to something I want to work but I'm tied to the house with the baby.
- Carers can be completely tied to their homes.
- be tied to doing something I don't want to be tied to coming home at a particular time.
- [intransitive, transitive] (of two teams, etc.) to have the same number of points synonym draw
- tie (with somebody) England tied 2–2 with Germany in the first round.
- tie for something They tied for second place.
- tie something The scores are tied at 3–3.
- Last night's vote was tied.
- [transitive] tie something (in written music) to join notes with a tie see also tongue-tied
fasten with string/rope
connect/link
limit
in game/competition
music
Word OriginOld English tīgan (verb), tēah (noun), of Germanic origin.
Idioms
(tied to) somebody’s apron strings
- (too much under) the influence and control of somebody
- The British prime minister is too apt to cling to Washington's apron strings.
bind/tie somebody hand and foot
- to tie somebody’s hands and feet together so that they cannot move or escape
- to prevent somebody from doing what they want by creating rules, limits, etc.
have your hands tied
- to be unable to do what you want to do because of rules, promises, etc.
- I really wish I could help but my hands are tied.
tie somebody/yourself (up) in knots
- (informal) to become or make somebody very confused
- I got myself tied up in knots when I tried to explain the legal system to them.
tie the knot
- (informal) to get married
tie one on
- (North American English, informal) to get very drunk