Tied-up

The adjective 'tied-up' describes a situation where something is unavailable, busy, or constrained. It often refers to a person, resource, or process that is occupied or committed to a particular task or obligation, preventing them from being readily used for anything else. It implies a temporary state, usually solvable at the end of the committed time. This can be due to physical entanglement, procedural requirements, financial constraints, or simply an overload of work. It emphasizes a lack of free time, resources, or flexibility, creating a sense of restriction or blockage. Being tied-up necessitates waiting or finding alternative solutions, or rescheduling.

Tied-up meaning with examples

• The project manager was completely tied-up in meetings all morning, unable to answer any emails or make phone calls. The team had to postpone their questions, resulting in significant delays in the implementation stage.
• The delivery trucks were tied-up at the border, waiting for customs clearance, which significantly delayed the supply chain. Retailers faced empty shelves, forcing them to make emergency arrangements for supplies.
• The company's financial resources were tied-up in long-term investments. Despite the current need for new equipment, they couldn’t access the funds necessary to make a purchase and decided to rent for the time being.
• Due to the high volume of customer orders during the sales season, customer service representatives were tied-up fielding a deluge of calls and emails. Customers experienced increased wait times and frustration.
• The athlete, recovering from an injury, had his muscles tied-up from the physiotherapy sessions. He could only do basic exercises, limiting his training schedule and delaying his return to competition.