tied up

The phrase "tied up" can indicate being busy, restricted, secured, or connected, depending on the context.

🇺🇸 US Voice:

🇬🇧 UK Voice:

Definition

B2General

(informal)Fully occupied or engaged, making one unavailable for other tasks.

Example

She's tied up at the moment and can't see you.
I'll be tied up in meetings until 3:00 pm.

B2General

(informal)Restricted or limited in movement or freedom due to obligations or constraints.

Example

The phone was tied up for almost an hour.
Traffic was tied up for miles.

B1Literal

(general)Fastened or secured with a rope, string, or similar material.

Example

The package was tied up with string.

B2General

(informal)Closely connected or associated with something else.

Example

This ties up with what I told you before.
We need to tie up the loose ends before the meeting.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "tied up":

tie up bound up tied in knots wrapped up tie down tie in bind up tie in knots locked up tie off tie to rope up jammed up tie that binds tie the knot string up hung up on hung up tie oneself in knots zip tie on the ropes bogged down on the hook tie in with sewn up strung out in irons sewed up lock up lace up bind hand and foot done up chain up in leash keyed up blocked up plugged up in hock toes up