idiom · neutral
run a tight ship
/rʌn ə taɪt ʃɪp/TIGHT
to manage an organisation or activity in a strict, efficient way
Examples
“As a manager, she runs a tight ship and expects punctuality from everyone.”
“If you want the event to run smoothly, you need someone who can run a tight ship.”
“The headteacher runs a tight ship; discipline in the school is strict.”
Band 8 sentence
“A competent director must be able to run a tight ship while still motivating the team.”
Collocations
- run a tight ship (as manager/organisation)
Word family
Common mistakes
run a tight ship (use for objects)→run a tight ship (use for organisations/teams)
keep a tight ship→run a tight ship
Say it for a higher band
5manage strictly→6be strict with staff→7+run a tight ship
Synonyms
manage efficiently
Easily confused
keep a tight ship
“She keeps a tight ship in her department.”
Related words
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