Origin and history of tie-up

Middle English teien, "attach or make fast by a band, ribbon, or the like," from Old English tigan, tiegan, Anglian tegan, "to tie, bind so as to restrict movement, join, connect," from the source of tie (n.).

By mid-13c. as "fasten so as to prevent escape." From late 14c. as "fasten (shoes, etc.) by tightening and knotting the strings of." The meaning "make the same score as, finish equal to a competitor" is from 1888, on the notion of a connecting link. Related: Tied; tying.

To tie down "fasten or confine by tying" is from 1690s. The figure of tying the tongue to prevent speaking is by c. 1400. To figuratively tie (one's) hands "prevent effective action" is from 1640s. To tie the knot in the figurative sense "form a union" is from 1707. To tie one on "get drunk" is recorded from 1944.

"to or toward a point or place higher than another," Old English up, uppe, from Proto-Germanic *upp- "up," from PIE root *upo "under," also "up from under," hence also "over." As a preposition, from late Old English as "down onto, above and touching, sitting on, at the summit of;" from c. 1200 as "to a higher place."

Often used elliptically for go up, come up, rise up, etc. To be up to (something) "engaged in some activity" (typically reprehensible) is by 1837. Slang up the river "in jail" is recorded by 1891, originally in reference to Sing Sing, which is up the Hudson from New York City. To drive someone up the wall (1951) is from the notion of the behavior of lunatics or caged animals. Insulting retort up yours (scil. ass (n.2)) is attested by late 19c.

From the same Proto-Germanic source are Old Frisian, Old Saxon up "up, upward," Old Norse upp; Danish, Dutch op; Old High German uf, German auf "up;" Gothic iup "up, upward," uf "on, upon, under;" Old High German oba, German ob "over, above, on, upon."