tie up

secure with or as if with ropes

• “tie down the prisoners”
• “tie up the old newspapers and bring them to the recycling shed”

invest so as to make unavailable for other purposes

• “All my money is tied up in long-term investments”

restrain from moving or operating normally

• “Traffic is tied up for miles around the bridge where the accident occurred”

secure in or as if in a berth or dock

• “tie up the boat”

finish the last row

a social or business relationship

• “a valuable financial affiliation”
• “he was sorry he had to sever his ties with other members of the team”
• “many close associations with England”

an interruption of normal activity