(tighter, tightest)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
Tight clothes or shoes are rather small and fit closely to your body.
His jeans were too tight.
? loose
ADJ
• tightly
He buttoned his collar tightly round his thick neck.
ADV: ADV with v
2.
If you hold someone or something tight, you hold them firmly and securely.
She just fell into my arms, clutching me tight for a moment...
Hold on tight!
ADV: ADV after v
•
Tight is also an adjective.
As he and Henrietta passed through the gate he kept a tight hold of her arm.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
• tightly
She climbed back into bed and wrapped her arms tightly round her body.
ADV: ADV after v
3.
Tight controls or rules are very strict.
The measures include tight control of media coverage...
Security is tight this week at the polling sites.
ADJ
• tightly
The internal media was tightly controlled by the government during the war.
ADV: ADV after v, ADV -ed
4.
Something that is shut tight is shut very firmly.
I keep the flour and sugar in individual jars, sealed tight with their glass lids...
She kept her eyes tight closed.
ADV: ADV -ed, ADV after v
• tightly
Pemberton frowned and closed his eyes tightly...
ADV: ADV after v, ADV -ed
5.
Skin, cloth, or string that is tight is stretched or pulled so that it is smooth or straight.
My skin feels tight and lacking in moisture...
ADJ
• tightly
Her sallow skin was drawn tightly across the bones of her face.
ADV: ADV with v
6.
Tight is used to describe a group of things or an amount of something that is closely packed together.
She curled up in a tight ball, with her knees tucked up at her chin...
The men came in a tight group.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
•
Tight is also an adverb.
The people sleep on sun loungers packed tight, end to end.
ADV
• tightly
Many animals travel in tightly packed lorries and are deprived of food, water and rest.
ADV: ADV after v, ADV -ed
7.
If a part of your body is tight, it feels rather uncomfortable and painful, for example because you are ill, anxious, or angry.
It is better to stretch the tight muscles first...
= taut
ADJ
• tightness
Heart disease often shows itself first as pain or tightness in the chest.
N-UNCOUNT
8.
A tight group of people is one whose members are closely linked by beliefs, feelings, or interests.
We're a tight group, so we do keep in touch.
= close
ADJ
9.
A tight bend or corner is one that changes direction very quickly so that you cannot see very far round it.
They collided on a tight bend and both cars were extensively damaged.
= sharp
ADJ: usu ADJ n
10.
A tight schedule or budget allows very little time or money for unexpected events or expenses.
It's difficult to cram everything into a tight schedule...
Financially things are a bit tight.
ADJ
11.
A tight contest is one where none of the competitors has a clear advantage or looks likely to win, so that it is difficult to say who the winner will be.
It was a very tight match...
ADJ
12.
If you say that someone is tight, you disapprove of them because they are unwilling to spend their money. (INFORMAL)
What about getting new ones-Are you so tight you won't even spend three roubles?
= tight-fisted, mean, stingy
ADJ [disapproval]
13.
14.
If you are in a tight corner or in a tight spot, you are in a difficult situation. (INFORMAL)
That puts the president in a tight spot if the vote is not a resounding 'yes'...
PHRASE: usu prep PHR
15.
You can say 'sleep tight' to someone when they are going to bed as an affectionate way of saying that you hope they will sleep well.
Good night, Davey. Sleep tight.
CONVENTION
16.
to
keep a tight rein on: see
rein
