siết chặt
Definition
- Verb:
- To tighten: To make something, such as a grip, a connection, or a physical object, more secure, firm, or constricted by applying pressure or force.
- To strengthen / To consolidate: To make an abstract entity, such as unity, ranks, or control, more solid, cohesive, and unbreakable.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Cô ấy siết chặt tay tôi để an ủi. (She tightened her grip on my hand to comfort me.)
- Công ty sẽ siết chặt các quy định về an toàn. (The company will tighten the safety regulations.)
- Chúng ta phải siết chặt hàng ngũ để vượt qua khó khăn. (We must strengthen our ranks to overcome difficulties.)
Advanced Usage
"siết chặt vòng vây": to tighten the encirclement/siege.
- Quân đội siết chặt vòng vây quanh thành phố. (The army tightened the siege around the city.)
"siết chặt quan hệ": to strengthen/consolidate a relationship.
- Hai nước cam kết siết chặt quan hệ đối tác. (The two countries committed to strengthening their partnership.)
Variants and Related Words
- Thắt chặt (v): to tighten, to fasten tightly. Often used interchangeably with "siết chặt" in many contexts.
- Anh ấy thắt chặt dây an toàn. (He fastened his seatbelt tightly.)
Synonyms
- Tighten: To make something tight or tighter.
- Clench: To close or hold something very tightly, especially a hand or teeth.
- Strengthen: To make something stronger.
- Consolidate: To make something physically stronger or more solid; to combine into a single, more effective unit.
Related Idioms
Siết chặt hầu bao: to tighten one's purse strings; to spend less money.
- Mùa dịch, mọi người đều phải siết chặt hầu bao. (During the pandemic season, everyone had to tighten their purse strings.)
Siết chặt lòng người: to win over/consolidate people's hearts and minds.
- Chiến dịch từ thiện đó đã giúp siết chặt lòng người. (That charity campaign helped to win over people's hearts.)