tie up loose ends

verb

To deal with the minor consequences of a previous action; to tidy up, finish, or complete.

“Removing her name from the mailing list was her way of tying up loose ends.”

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Meanings

verbtie up loose ends (third-person singular simple present ties up loose ends, present participle tying up loose ends, simple past and past participle tied up loose ends)

present singular third person ties up loose ends · participle present tying up loose ends · participle past tied up loose ends · past tied up loose ends

  1. idiomaticTo deal with the minor consequences of a previous action; to tidy up, finish, or complete.

    Removing her name from the mailing list was her way of tying up loose ends.

    2 more examples

    it is rich in detail and ideas, and it comes from a unique, uncompromising talent who likes to leave some loose ends for the viewer to tie up.

    2020 September 1, Nicholas Barber, “Five stars for I'm Thinking of Ending Things”, in BBC

    The measures for rail that were genuinely new were welcomed, although some had hoped for more. Many of these tied up loose ends around the network - unfinished business left hanging by the last government.

    2024 November 13, Dickon Ross, “Opinion”, in RAIL, number 1022, page 3
Cite this entry
APA

tie up loose ends. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tie%20up%20loose%20ends

MLA

“tie up loose ends.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tie%20up%20loose%20ends. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tie up loose ends,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tie%20up%20loose%20ends.

Source: tie up loose ends on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.