tight·en
verb/ˈtaɪtn/
/ˈtaɪtn/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they tighten | /ˈtaɪtn/ /ˈtaɪtn/ |
| he / she / it tightens | /ˈtaɪtnz/ /ˈtaɪtnz/ |
| past simple tightened | /ˈtaɪtnd/ /ˈtaɪtnd/ |
| past participle tightened | /ˈtaɪtnd/ /ˈtaɪtnd/ |
| -ing form tightening | /ˈtaɪtnɪŋ/ /ˈtaɪtnɪŋ/ |
- [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 Examples- This 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 to tighten a lid/screw/rope/knot
- [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.
政府将加强对酒类销售的控制。 - 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
- …
- to tighten security
- [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 - tighten (up) The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke.
系船的绳子突然绷断了。 - His mouth tightened into a thin line.
他的嘴抿成了一道细缝。 - tighten something She tightened the straps on her backpack.
她拉紧了背包上的带子。
- tighten (up) The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke.
- [intransitive] (of part of the body) 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 - He felt his stomach tighten.
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.
需要进一步勒紧裤腰带。
Synonyms savesavebudget ▪ economize ▪ tighten your beltThese words all mean to spend less money.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。
- 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。
- 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
- With price increases on most goods, everyone is having to tighten their belt.