tie down

tie (one) down

To constrain, restrict, impede, or limit one's ability to do something or go somewhere. I would love to try something different, but my career has really tied me down. I just don't think my experience applies to any other profession. The company is trying to tie us down with appeals and injunctions to keep the lawsuit from reaching a court. Once you're tied down with kids, travel anywhere becomes extremely difficult.
See also: down, tie
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

tie someone or something down

to fasten someone or something down by tying or binding. The robbers tied Gary down so he couldn't get up and get away. They tied down Gary.
See also: down, tie

tie someone down (to someone or something)

Fig. to encumber something with someone or something; to make someone responsible to or for someone or something. Please don't tie me down to your uncle. Let your sister help out. Yes, don't tie me down all week.
See also: down, tie
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

tie down

Constrain, confine, or limit, as in As long as the children were small, she was too tied down to look for a job. [Late 1600s]
See also: down, tie
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

tie down

v.
1. To fix or hold someone or something in place with a cord, rope, or strap: We tied down the deck chairs so they wouldn't blow away. I tied the luggage down so that it wouldn't fall off the roof of the car.
2. To restrict someone or something in movement: Our new baby has really tied us down—we haven't eaten out for dinner in months. The rebels have tied down the government troops in the mountains, leaving the capital vulnerable to attack. I'd like to travel more, but unfortunately, I'm tied down with a job.
See also: down, tie
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • a whack at (something)
  • a/the feel of (something)
  • (I) wouldn't (do something) if I were you
  • a straw will show which way the wind blows
  • a horse of another
  • a horse of another color
  • a horse of another colour
  • a crack at (someone or something)
  • all right
  • (you) wanna make something of it?
References in periodicals archive
But even when the sights are in their cases it's still a good idea to tie down the cases on the truck bed to keep them from jumping around.
If for some reason you don't have the sight cases, pad the truck bed with something like a mattress and tie down the sights so they can't move.
Your trip to support
The striker has impressed manager Steve Bruce since joining from Liverpool for pounds 6.25million a year ago and the Blues are keen to tie down his future.
Football Spy: Heskey strikes a new deal
Cork boss Pat Dolan is also hoping to tie down Billy Woods on a new deal and has also signed on two of Corkis Under-21 Cup winning side from last season - Shane Guthrie and Jamie Nolan on two-year-deals.
Football: City deal Dan and dusted
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger hopes to tie down Campbell to the deal before the start of the season and the indications are that he will sign on again at Highbury.
Football: SOL CUTS NEW DEAL; Arsenal star will sign for pounds 50,000 a week less
Sturrock also hopes to tie down Arsenal target, keeper Antti Niemi.
Football: Anders in talks
Available on both sides of the Beast or Beast II flatbed trailer, the flat hook tie downs are interchangeable, allowing torque to be applied evenly to stabilize the load.
Double-L side rail system meets FMCSA 5,400-lb. rating for flatbed trailers
"One time I forgot the transom tie downs. I could not figure out why the boat would not back off the trailer.
As heard on the forum
Dynamic tests performed with wheelchairs installed facing sideways (and properly secured with tie downs and restraints) have shown that the passenger cannot be adequately protected in a head-on crash (the most common accident).
School bus safety; tie-downs and restraints