to tie;  to fasten;  to wear (necktie, belt);  to put on;  to total;  to sum;  to be strict with
 to hug someone close;  to hold someone tight;  to embrace closely
 to tighten;  to press hard
 to tighten;  to stiffen;  to brace;  to strain
 to chew thoroughly;  to bite (e.g. one's lip);  to reflect upon;  to digest
 to be shut;  to close;  to be firm (of a body, face, etc.);  to be well-knit;  to be locked;  to tighten
 to become tense;  to be tightened;  to become firm (e.g. body)
 to screw up;  to put the screws on (a person);  to constrict (someone, something)
 to brace oneself;  to focus one's energies;  to focus one's mind
 pressure;  clamping;  tightening;  fastening
 deadline;  closing;  cofferdam;  closed (door, window, etc.)
 to bring to a finish;  to bind firmly;  to superintend
 to manage;  to control;  to supervise;  to crack down on;  to keep under strict control;  to enforce
 tie up;  bind;  sum;  total amount;  judo choking (strangling) techniques;  last meal eaten when going restaurant hopping;  completion
 control;  management;  supervision
 closing;  shutting;  firmness;  tightness;  discipline
 to shut out;  to bar;  to lock out;  to exclude
 to close up;  to shut up (e.g. behind doors);  to cut off (e.g. because a deadline has expired);  to close off (e.g. subscription list)
 to constrict one's chest;  to wring one's heart;  to wrench one's heart
 conclusion;  end;  completion;  summing up;  supervision
 to step firmly;  to harden by treading
 slack;  loose;  lax;  slovenly;  sloppy
 to become tense;  to become serious;  to become sober;  sobering;  bracing
 to pull oneself together;  to focus one's mind;  to brace oneself;  to gird up one's loins
 not at all tense;  relaxed;  calm
 shutout;  shutting out;  lock-out;  freeze-out
 time limit;  closing day;  deadline
 decorative string used to hold a kimono sash in place
 to tighten the reins;  to bring (someone) under control
 to torment by slow degrees;  to torture slowly;  to drag things out;  to reproach in a roundabout way; (lit.) to strangle with floss silk
 do not let your guard down after a victory; (lit.) tighten the strings of your helmet after winning
 thrifty person;  stingy person;  tight-fisted person
 yakishime chinaware;  high-fired unglazed ceramics
 draining blood from a live fish (from above the gills and at the base of the tail) to keep it fresh;  fasting fish for several days to preserve flavour and quality (and reduce mortality during transport);  killing fish in a fishtank (immediately before cooking);  fish killed in a fishtank
 clamp;  clasp;  fastener;  binding
 time limit;  closing day;  settlement day (payment);  deadline
 to roll up one's sleeves and get to work;  to buckle down
 monetary tightening;  credit squeeze;  credit crunch
 draining blood from a live fish (from above the gills and at the base of the tail) to keep it fresh;  fasting fish for several days to preserve flavour and quality (and reduce mortality during transport);  killing fish in a fishtank (immediately before cooking);  fish killed in a fishtank
 to tighten the purse strings;  to tighten one's belt
 to pull oneself together;  to get one's act together;  to brace oneself
 soused (vinegared) mackerel
 to bring to a finish;  to complete
 shime-waza (judo stranglehold)
 to economize in the household (economise)
 lean;  firm;  toned (body, muscles);  compact;  compressed
 water-binding;  compaction by watering;  hydraulic filling;  hydraulic tilling
 bisque firing;  bisque (pottery)
 tightly-compacted snow (e.g. due to compression under its own weight)
 small high-pitched Japanese drum or taiko with its head pulled taut by ropes
 adjustable strap;  bracer;  lacing
 loose;  slovenly;  sloppy;  disorganized
 parfait eaten at the end of a meal