tied up
Fastened with rope
Tied up means bound with rope or cord, but more often describes being occupied or unavailable.
Someone who is tied up is busy and can't be interrupted: I'm tied up in meetings all afternoon.
Money or resources that are tied up are committed elsewhere and not accessible: Most of our capital is tied up in real estate.
Traffic can be tied up—stalled or congested.
Secured or destined
- ropedCaught with cord
- tetheredFastened by a line
- securedMade fast or obtained
- fastenedJoined or held together
knotted · lashed · strapped · shackled · handcuffed · trussed · gagged · captive
Secured by line
Currently in use
- swampedOverwhelmed beyond capacity
- unavailableCannot be accessed
- preoccupiedMentally elsewhere, not present
- engagedPledged to marry
overwhelmed · hectic · overbooked · slammed · inundated · stretched thin · committed · booked
Firmly committed, unchangeable
- committedFirmly pledged or bound
- sunk inComprehended after delay
- allocatedDesignated for distribution
- earmarkedDesignated for specific use
pledged · reserved · frozen · inaccessible · illiquid · encumbered
bound
Secured or destined
fastened · knotted · lashed · strapped · shackled · handcuffed · trussed · gagged · captive · immobilized
moored
Secured by line
secured · harbored · lashed · hitched · cleated · alongside · port
occupied
Currently in use
- swampedOverwhelmed beyond capacity
- unavailableCannot be accessed
- preoccupiedMentally elsewhere, not present
engaged · overwhelmed · hectic · overbooked · slammed · inundated · stretched thin · committed · booked · scheduled
locked in
Firmly committed, unchangeable
earmarked · pledged · reserved · frozen · inaccessible · illiquid · encumbered
finalized
Made permanent and complete
closed · finished · done · sorted · squared away · concluded
- burnoutburned out, burnt out, burn out, burning out, burnout
- unarmedweaponless, bare hands, empty hands, fists, unarmed combat
- nautical termsahoy, afloat, aye aye, aye-aye, becalmed
- late excusesrunning late, stuck in traffic, lost track of time, delayed, behind schedule
- survivalsurvival, survive, endure, persist, last
- finisheddone, completed, finished, complete, ended
tied upfree
Without payment or restriction
available · unoccupied · at leisure · free as a bird · uncommitted
tied upliquid
Free-flowing substance
available · free · accessible · unrestricted · freed up