tie-up

[ tahy-uhp ]

noun

1. a temporary stoppage or slowing of business, traffic, telephone service, etc., as due to a strike, storm, or accident.
2. the act or state of tying up or the state of being tied up.
3. an involvement, connection, or entanglement:

   the tie-up between the two companies; his tie-up with the crime syndicate.

4. a mooring place; place where a boat may be tied up.
5. a cow barn with stalls.
6. a stall allotted to each cow in such a barn.

tie up

verb

1. tr to attach or bind securely with or as if with string, rope, etc
2. to moor (a vessel)
3. tr; often passive to engage the attentions of

   he's tied up at the moment and can't see you

4. tr; often passive to conclude (the organization of something)

   the plans for the trip were tied up well in advance

5. to come or bring to a complete standstill
6. tr to invest or commit (funds, etc) and so make unavailable for other uses
7. tr to subject (property) to conditions that prevent sale, alienation, or other action

noun

1. a link or connection
2. a standstill
3. an informal term for traffic jam

Word History and Origins

Origin of tie-up¹

First recorded in 1705–15; noun use of verb phrase tie up

Example Sentences

The tie-up will see the firms sharing critical technology at a time of slowing global demand for electric cars and increased competition from Chinese rivals.

From BBC

The firms added they would be working with the CMA to secure approval for the tie-up.

From BBC

It has also agreed a new tie-up with book chain Waterstones, which is set to open in its Oxford Street store in London next month.

From BBC

After the announcement, Mr Musk posted several messages on his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, criticising the tie-up.

From BBC

Credit Suisse bondholders filed a lawsuit in New York arguing that Switzerland unlawfully wiped out the bank’s $17 billion in debt to facilitate its tie-up with UBS.

From New York Times

Related Words

• closure
• gridlock
• interruption
• layoff
• shutdown