hog-tied; hog-tying; hog-ties

transitive verb

1
: to tie together the feet of
2
: to make helpless : stymie
hog-tie scientific progress

Examples of hog-tie in a Sentence

their principals' inflexible demands virtually hog-tied the diplomats' efforts to negotiate a peace treaty
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The dead man found hog-tied on the side of a highway earlier this week has been identified as a 57-year-old Queens resident as NYPD detectives launch a homicide investigation, police said Friday. Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 7 Feb. 2025 Burns became combative and the officers hog-tied him and tased him 21 times, according to police records. Sarah Metz, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hog-tie was in 1886

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hog-tie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hog-tie. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

hog-tie

verb
ˈhȯg-ˌtī,
ˈhäg-
1
: to tie together the feet of
hog-tie a calf
2
: to make helpless
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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