TIED UPの意味、手が塞がっている

2010.12.17

Q: Why was Gulliver - that famous traveler to Lilliput - unable to make it to his afternoon appointment? A: Because he was all tied up! (cue laugh track)

(BE) TIED UP   手が塞がっている If someone is tied up, they are not able to do something because they're busy doing something else. To tie up something (for example, a phone or traffic) is to prevent it from being used or from moving forward. tied up は、何かをするのに忙しくて、他のことができない、という意味です。 tie up ＋（もの）（…例えば、電話や交通など）と言うと、それらを使えないようにする、動けなくする、という意味になります。

	I'll be tied up in meetings until 4:00. (on the phone) I'm a bit tied up at the moment. Can I call you back later? Please don't tie up the phone. I'm expecting an important call. Traffic was tied up for over an hour because of an accident on the interstate (highway).

Celebrate the season this weekend!