[tie up] vt (1530) 1: to attach, fasten, or bind securely; also: to wrap up and fasten
2. a: to connect closely: join "tie up the loose ends" b: to cause to be linked so as to depend on or relate to something 3 a: to place or invest in such a manner as to make unavailable for other purposes "their money was tied up in stocks" b: to restrain from normal movement, operation, or progress "traffic was tied up for miles"
4. a: to keep busy "was tied up in conference all day" b: to preempt the use of "tied up the phone for an hour" ~ vi 1: dock "the ferry ties up at the south slip"
2: to assume a definite relationship "this ties up with what I told you before"