tight

tight

I

tight¹ S2 W3 /taɪt/ adjective (comparative tighter, superlative tightest)1.  CLOTHES tight clothes fit your body very closely, especially in a way that is uncomfortable
   OPP  loose:
    tight jeans
    My shoes were so tight that I could hardly walk.
    The jacket is rather a tight fit (=it fits too tightly).
2.  PULLED/STRETCHED FIRMLY string, wire, cloth etc that is tight has been pulled or stretched firmly so that it is straight or cannot move:
    The bandage must be tight enough to stop the bleeding.
    She tied the rope around the post and pulled it tight.
3.  ATTACHED FIRMLY a screw, lid etc that is tight is firmly attached and difficult to move:
    Check that the screws are tight.
4.  HOLDING SOMETHING FIRMLY a tight hold/grip if you keep or have a tight hold on something, you hold it firmly:
    His mother kept a tight hold on his hand.
5.  STRICT controlling something very strictly or firmly:
    The government is keeping tight control on immigration.
    keep a tight grip/hold/rein on something (=control it very firmly)
    The former dictator still keeps a tight grip on power.
    Anna was determined to keep a tight hold on her feelings.
    Security is always tight for the opening day of parliament.
    run/keep a tight ship (=manage a company, organization etc strictly and effectively)
6.  LITTLE MONEY if money is tight, you do not have enough of it
    money is tight/things are tight
    Money was tight and he needed a job badly.
    As you know, I run the magazine on a pretty tight budget.
7.  LITTLE TIME if time is tight, it is difficult for you to do everything you need to do in the time available:
    Time is tight, and she has another meeting to go to this afternoon.
    We should arrive on time, but it’ll be tight.
    As usual, his schedule on Saturday was tight (=he had arranged to do several things in a short time).
    I'm working to a very tight deadline (=I have to finish a piece of work very quickly).
8.  LITTLE SPACE if space is tight, there is only just enough space to fit something into a place
    be a tight squeeze/fit
    Six in the car will be a tight squeeze.
9.  NOT GENEROUS informal not generous, or trying hard to avoid spending money:
    Don’t be so tight!
10.  CLOSE TOGETHER placed or standing closely together:
    The animal’s body was curled up in a tight little ball.
    She wore her hair in a tight bun.
11.  CLOSE RELATIONSHIP a tight group of people, countries etc have a close relationship with each other
   SYN  tight-knit:
    Together, the young film-makers formed a tight group.
    the tight bonds that had grown between them
12.  BEND/TURN a tight bend or turn is very curved and turns quickly in another direction:
    Danny lost control on a tight bend, and the car ran off the road.
13.  CHEST/STOMACH/THROAT if your chest, stomach, or throat feels tight, it feels painful and uncomfortable, because you are ill or worried:
    Before she went on stage her chest felt tight and her throat hurt.
14.  EXPRESSION/SMILE/VOICE a tight expression, smile, or voice shows that you are annoyed or worried
   SYN  tight-lipped:
    ‘Look, I’m sorry ...,’ she said, forcing a tight smile.
15.  DIFFICULT SITUATION in a tight corner/spot informal in a difficult situation:
    He’s a good man to have around if ever you’re in a tight corner.
    ‘Did something go wrong?’ ‘Let’s just say I got into a bit of a tight spot.’
16.  PLAY/PERFORMANCE playing a piece of music or giving a performance very exactly and well, without any pauses or mistakes:
    The band gave a really tight performance.
    a tight, well-rehearsed production
17.  GAME/COMPETITION a tight game, competition etc is one in which the teams, players etc play equally well, and it is not easy to win:
    The opening quarter of the game was very tight.
18.  DRUNK  [not before noun] old-fashioned informal drunk
—tightly adverb:
    Marie held the baby tightly in her arms.
—tightness noun [uncountable]
⇨ airtight, watertight
     

THESAURUS

■ rule/law/system
   ▪ strict a strict order or rule is one that must be obeyed: There are strict rules about keeping tax records. | He had strict instructions to return the key to me.
   ▪ tight tight controls or limits are very strict about what is allowed and what is not allowed: The report recommends tighter controls on the advertising of alcohol. | There are tight regulations governing waste disposal.
   ▪ tough tough laws or rules are very strict: They want tougher laws against drinking and driving. | The federal government is introducing tough new rules on immigration.
   ▪ harsh harsh punishments or laws are very severe, often too severe: There are harsh penalties for drug trafficking. | The government has brought in harsh measures to combat the rioting taking place in many cities.
   ▪ stringent controlling what people can do with rules that have very high standards: There are now stringent controls on pollution from all power stations. | stringent new food safety regulations

II

tight² adverbvery firmly or closely
   SYN  tightly:
    Hold tight to the handrail!
    I kept my eyes tight shut.
⇨ sit tight at sit(8), ⇨ sleep tight at sleep¹(4)