tightening up

Making less loose

Tightening up is making something stricter, more secure, or more precise.

Rules get tightened up when enforcement increases: The league is tightening up on helmet violations.

Writing tightens up when you remove unnecessary words.

A team tightens up its defense by eliminating mistakes.

Muscles tighten up from exertion or cold.

Related

clamping · screwing · nailing down · prioritizing · saving · ratcheting · refining · calibrating · constricting · standardizing · binding · restraining · cracking down · organizing · bolting · concentrating · structuring · locking

Opposites
physical tension or fastening

tightening uploosening

Reducing tightness or tension

loosening up · slackening · unfastening · releasing · letting out

strictness or control

tightening uploosening up

Reducing tension or rigidity

relaxing · easing up · slackening · liberalizing · deregulating

emotional or physical state

tightening uploosening up

Reducing tension or rigidity

relaxing · unwinding · calming down · chilling out · decompressing

Family

tight, tighten, tightens, tightened, tightening, tightly, tightness, tighter, tightest

Familiarity
Top 100,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G