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sew
sew someone or something up
1. Lit. to stitch together an opening in someone or something. The surgeon sewed the patient up and pronounced the operation a success. This is torn. Can you sew up this rip?
2. Fig. to complete one's dealings with or discussion of someone or something. It's time to sew this up and go home. I think we can sew up the shipping contract this afternoon and get on to someone else. Let's sew up this last matter and go.
*sewed up
1. Lit. [the sewing of a gap in cloth] completed. (*Typically: get something ~; have something ~.) Have you got that tear sewed up yet?
2. and *wrapped up Fig. settled or finished. (*Typically: get something ~; have something ~.) I'll take the contract to the mayor tomorrow morning. I'll get the whole deal sewed up by noon. Don't worry about the car loan. I'll have it wrapped up in time to make the purchase.
sew up something
to remove all doubt about the successful result of something Schall hopes to sew up the nomination for governor this week. The company hopes to have a deal sewn up by the end of the year.
sew up
1. Complete successfully, as in Our team has sewn up the championship. [Colloquial; c. 1900]
2. Gain complete control of, monopolize, as in Our restaurant hopes to sew up the town's takeout business. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]
sew up
v.1. To mend or repair something by sewing: I sewed up the tear in my pants. The tailor sewed the hole up.
2. To make certain that some victory or prize is attained or achieved: The candidate sewed up the election by winning Florida. We sewed the game up with a goal in the fourth quarter.
sew something up
tv. to finalize something; to conclude something. (see also
sewed up.)
Let’s sew this up and get out of here. sewed up
1. mod. completed. I’ve just about got this contract sewed up.
2. mod. alcohol intoxicated. She’s not just drunk; she’s sewed up.