Meaning of tight In English

• 0 (held or kept together) firmly or closely:

  • I can't untie the knot - it's too tight.

  • This lid is on very tight.

  • The people stood talking in tight groups.

  • Hold on tight when we go around the corner.

  • Check that windows and doors are shut tight (= completely closed) before you leave.

  • The plastic cover was stretched tight (= stretched as much as it could be) across the tank.

  • It is a tight squeeze on some trains, the General Manager acknowledged (= passengers are packed closely together).

• 1 Clothes or shoes that are tight fit the body too closely and are uncomfortable:

  • That jacket's too tight - you need a bigger size.

  • Some people experienced tight chests after exercising in areas of high pollution.

  • If you have any symptoms such as itchy mouth or tight throat after eating nuts, stop.

  • If you sit for long periods, it can make your hamstring muscles very tight on the back of your thighs.

  • Calf stretches can alleviate tight calves when walking.

  • In a small, tight voice, she said, "Help me, please."

• 2 Tight controls or rules severely limit what can happen:

  • Rules on what can be taken on board an aircraft have become tighter.

  • tight security

• 3 curving sharply, not gradually or loosely:

  • He lost control of his car on a tight bend.

  • The whales were swimming in a tight circle.

  • She was instantly recognizable with her short, tight curls.

• 4 If a race, competition, election, etc. is tight, the people, teams, or organizations involved are of a similar standard and equally likely to be successful. :

  • The new governor was elected after an unexpectedly tight race.

  • The race was extremely tight with the lead changing twice in the last 250m.

• 5 If time or money is tight, there is only just enough of it:

  • I'm sorry I can't stay for a chat, time's really tight.

  • They're raising three kids on one small salary so money is very tight.

• 6 unwilling to spend money:

  • He was too tight to pay for a taxi so we had to walk.

• 7 having drunk too much alcohol:

  • Jim, you're tight!

• 8 If two people are tight, they know each other very well and like each other a lot:

  • The two of them were pretty tight at school.

• 9 (held or kept together) firmly or closely:

  • You have to wrap the bandage tight enough so that it really supports your ankle.

  • Make sure the door is shut tight (= completely closed) before you leave.

  • She wore a tight black skirt.

  • These shoes feel a bit tight.

• 10 (esp. of time or money) available in limited amounts:

  • Arnold has a very tight schedule today and I don’t know if he can see you.

  • We’re on a tight budget and can’t afford to eat out much.

  • Parking is very tight on weekdays around here.

• 11 strongly controlled:

  • Security was tight at the meeting between the two leaders.

• 12 (of situations) difficult or hard to deal with:

  • We were in a tight financial situation.

  • I was in a tight spot (= difficult situation) and wasn’t sure what I should do.

  • He was involved in a very tight race for governor.

• 13 controlled very carefully:

  • tight controls/security/restrictions The talks were held amid tight security in London.

• 14 if money or time is tight, there is only just enough of it:

  • Finances are tight and no university has spare cash.

  • tight budget/deadline/schedule We're working to a very tight schedule.

• 15 if there is a tight market, there is not as much of something available as is wanted or needed:

  • They should not restrict so much land in an already tight and overpriced housing market.

  • A tight labor market is an employer's nightmare.

• 16 to control something, especially spending, in a very careful way:

  • The chancellor was urged to keep a tight rein on public finances.