As Tight as a Tick

Posted by ESC on August 26, 2009 at 11:48

In Reply to: As Tight as a Tick posted by Michele on August 26, 2009 at 08:21:

: As Tight as a Tick... I'm not seeing the origins of this saying. I'm under the impression this came from U.S. The 'South' to be precise. It means to tighten the 'ticking' on a bed before sleeping in it. The 'ticking' being the strap that runs in a zigzag pattern under the mattress. This was explained at a tour of a plantation in Atlanta, Georgia. Is this in fact where this comes from?

I was thinking it referred to tick as in blood-sucking insect. At least one reference agrees with me. "Extremely close with one's money. If you have ever tried to separate a tick from an animal or some person's skin, you know what 'tight.' is. Sometimes the phrase has served to mean 'drunk.'..." The Dictionary of Cliches by James Rogers (Wings Books, Originally New York: Facts on File Publications, 1985). Page 265. I've heard it said in regards to someone who is stuffed after a meal.

• As Tight as a Tick RRC 26/August/09
  • As Tight as a Tick Victoria S Dennis 26/August/09