run a tight ship

Meaning

1. Oxford100% of films

   to organize sth in a very efficient way, controlling other people very closely

   There's no ladder climbing in my office. I run a tight ship. Okay?

In the movies · 2

• There's no ladder climbing in my office. I run a tight ship. Okay?Transformers: Dark of the Moon2011
• Joey Zasa at least was running a tight ship, but with him out of the picture we must step in.The Godfather Part III1990
• We run a pretty tight ship here.Fargo1996
• You'll find that we run a very tight ship here.Hot Fuzz2007
• This is a privately-owned for-profit prison, and I run a tight, cheap ship!Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder2009

Learn it in full scenes

• Fargo1996
  • Jerry Hires Two Kidnappers
  • Jerry Haggles With the Kidnappers
  • Jerry Sells the TruCoat

From the same entry

• to keep a tight rein on
• a tight spot
• sit tight
• sleep tight
• tie in knots
• tie one on
• tie the knot
• apron strings
• bind hand and foot
• have your hands tied
• tie down
• tie in