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Glite Dictionary
to run a tight ship

to run a tight ship

7 5.4
Manage a group or organization strictly to keep it working well
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : mantener una organización eficiente
  • Huge thanks to everyone on the WotC Promotions and Brand team for setting this up, and running a tight ship at the PAX booth.
  • run a tight ship here

Examples

Synonyms

to keep a tight ship
vsto run a tight ship
6.5

Run a team or group strictly and efficiently

means the same but uses a different verb phrasing

Antonyms

to mismanage
17 4.8

To run something badly so it fails or causes problems

to disorganize
  • US
4 4.5

To make something lose its order or structure

How Strict

to run a tight ship
  • Informal
7 5.4
to supervise
189 3.5
to manage
643 2.7

Surface Forms

run a tight ship infinitive
ran a tight ship past
run a tight ship past participle
running a tight ship present participle
runs a tight ship third person singular

Morphology

run + a + tight + ship

The verb 'run' (to manage) combined with 'tight' (strict) gives a fairly clear hint that someone manages something strictly, but 'ship' must be understood metaphorically as an organization rather than a literal vessel. Because that metaphorical mapping is required to get the full meaning (efficient, disciplined management), a B1 learner who knows the words can guess the general sense but not all nuances without prior exposure.

Etymology

The idiom run a tight ship comes from old sailing ships, where a captain had to keep every rope and sail pulled tight and the crew well ordered to keep the ship safe. That's why run a tight ship now means 'to manage people or a place in a very strict and organized way'.