If someone ties another person up, they fasten ropes or chains around them so that they cannot move or escape. Masked robbers broke in, tied him up, and made off with $8,000 At about 5 a.m. they struck again in Fetcham, tying up a couple and ransacking their house
If you tie an animal up, you fasten it to a fixed object with a piece of rope so that it cannot run away. Would you go and tie your horse up please They dismounted, tied up their horses and gave them the grain they had brought. = tether
If you tie up an issue or problem, you deal with it in a way that gives definite conclusions or answers. Kingfisher confirmed that it hopes to tie up a deal within the next two weeks We could have tied the whole case up without getting you and Smith shot at. see also tied up, tie-up