really tight

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phraseinformal

   Very close to someone, with a strong and trusting friendship or relationship.

   Grammar: Used after be or get, usually with with: we're really tight with them.

   Patterns

   • be really tight with someone
   • get really tight with someone

   My sister and I have been really tight since we were kids.

   He got really tight with a couple of guys from his soccer team.

   They're really tight with their neighbors and help each other all the time.

2. 2phrasefixed phrase

   Fitting closely and firmly, with little space to move or breathe.

   Grammar: Describes clothes, shoes or similar items; comes before a noun or after a linking verb.

   Patterns

   • be really tight
   • feel really tight

   These jeans are really tight around the waist.

   The lid was really tight, so I had to ask someone to open it.

   My new shoes felt really tight for the first week.

3. 3phrasefixed phrase

   Controlled very strictly, with little freedom allowed.

   Grammar: Often used about rules, schedules or security: a really tight schedule, really tight security.

   Patterns

   • a really tight schedule
   • really tight security
   • keep a really tight hold on something

   The team worked to a really tight schedule and finished on time.

   Security at the airport was really tight after the warning.

   She keeps a really tight hold on the family budget.

4. 4phrasefixed phraseinformal

   Having very little money available to spend.

   Grammar: Informal; usually after be or get when talking about money.

   Patterns

   • be really tight
   • money is really tight

   Money was really tight that year, so we stopped eating out.

   Things are really tight right now, but I should get paid on Friday.

Common combinations

really tight with someone

She's really tight with her old school friends.

a really tight schedule

We're on a really tight schedule, so we can't wait.

really tight security

There was really tight security at the concert.

money is really tight

Money is really tight this month, so let's stay in.

feel really tight

My chest felt really tight after the long run.

Synonyms and how they differ

close

Neutral and more formal than really tight when describing relationships; 'close friends' is safer in writing.

snug

Describes clothes or rooms that fit closely but comfortably, so it sounds warmer than really tight.

strict

Better than really tight for rules and control; 'strict rules' is the usual collocation.

Opposites

Word family

tighten verb

to make something tighter

tightly adverb

in a tight way

tightness noun

the state of being tight

Commonly confused: really tight or tightfisted?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “really tight”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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