tighten
verbVerb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they tighten | |
| he / she / it tightens | |
| past simple tightened | |
| past participle tightened | |
| -ing form tightening |
- [transitive, intransitive]
to hold or fix something more securely in position; to make something or become more difficult to move, open or separate 使更加严格；加强 - tighten something
to tighten a lid/screw/rope/knot 拧紧盖子／螺钉；绷紧绳子；打紧结 She tightened her grip on his arm. 她抓他的手臂抓得更紧了。 The nuts weren't properly tightened and the wheel came off. 螺母没拧紧，轮子脱落了。 - tighten something up
The brake cable needs tightening up. 刹车线需要调紧。 - (+ adv./prep.)
Her grip seemed to tighten on the door handle. 她似乎把门把手抓得更紧了。 He saw his father's jaw tighten in irritation. 他看到父亲气得紧咬牙关。
Extra ExamplesThis tool is for tightening screws. 这个工具是用来拧紧螺丝的。 Her fingers tightened convulsively with every jolt she received. 每多一下震动，她的手指就痉挛似地攥得更紧。 His hand tightened painfully around her wrist. 他的手紧紧握住她的手腕，弄得她生疼。
- tighten something
- [transitive] tighten something
to make something become stricter 使更加严格；加强 to tighten security 加强安全措施 The government is to tighten controls on the sale of alcohol. 政府将加强对酒精销售的控制。 Steps were taken to tighten discipline in the school. 已采取措施加强学校的纪律。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- a little
- slightly
- etc.
- …
- seem to
- feel something
- make something
- …
- about
- around
- round
- …
- [intransitive, transitive]
to become stretched so that it cannot stretch much further; to stretch or pull something in this way 使更加严格；加强 - [intransitive]
(of part of the body 人体部位 to become painful or uncomfortable because of illness or emotion （使）变紧，更加牢固 He felt his stomach tighten. 他感到肚子发紧。 Her face tightened with pain. 她痛得紧绷着脸。 His words made her throat tighten. 他的话使她喉咙发紧。
opposite loosen
Idioms
tighten your belt
to spend less money because there is less available 勒紧腰带（省吃俭用） With price increases on most goods, everyone is having to tighten their belt. 随着大多数商品的价格上涨，每个人都不得不勒紧腰带。 There is a need for further belt-tightening. 有必要进一步紧缩开支。
Synonyms savesave- budget
- economize
- tighten your belt
- save to keep money instead of spending it, often in order to buy a particular thing:
I’m saving for a new car. 我正攒钱想买辆新车。
- budget to be careful about the amount of money you spend; to plan to spend an amount of money for a particular purpose:
If we budget carefully we’ll be able to afford the trip. 我们精打细算一点，就能够负担这次旅行。
- economize
to use less money, time, etc. than you normally use 指节省、节约、节俭 - tighten your belt (rather informal
) to spend less money because there is less available: 指勒紧腰带省吃俭用： With the price increases, we are all having to tighten our belts. 由于物价上涨，我们都只好勒紧裤腰带了。
- to save up/budget for something
- to have to save/budget/economize/tighten our belts
- to try to/manage to save/budget/economize