tie up

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

• verb To secure with rope, string, etc.
• verb idiomatic To occupy, detain, keep busy, or delay.
• verb idiomatic To complete, finish, or resolve.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• verb invest so as to make unavailable for other purposes
• verb restrain from moving or operating normally
• verb secure with or as if with ropes
• verb secure in or as if in a berth or dock
• verb finish the last row