as tight as a tick

(as) tight as a tick

1. Extremely drunk. The old man, tight as a tick, stumbled into the building claiming to be a prophet from the future. Sorry about last night, my dad was as tight as a tick by the end of dinner.
2. Extremely close together; at or near an equal level; neck and neck. Usually said of competitors in a race or competition. The two athletes have been tight as a tick for this entire race. The election is as tight as a tick so far. We're going to have to wait until the very last votes are tallied before we know a definitive winner.
See also: tick, tight
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

(as) tight as a tick

1. mod. very tight. The windows were closed—tight as a tick—to keep the cold out.
2. mod. alcohol intoxicated. (An elaboration of tight.) The host got tight as a tick and fell in the pool.
See also: tick, tight
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • (as) tight as a tick
  • tight as a tick
  • crying drunk
  • crump
  • cross-eyed drunk
  • crosseyed
  • corkscrew
  • boozy
  • country drunk
  • go on tick