tight as a drum
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Completely tight.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Sly and the Family Stone sound entirely futuristic – like everyone else they have malfunctioning gear, but they “hurry up and play to avoid hanging you up”. Bang! Straight into Sing a Simple Song. Tight as a drum. Everyday People, a No 1 hit just a few weeks earlier, is a festival high point.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Wholly free from leaks, cracks, etc.
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “tight as a drum” mean?
Completely tight.
Is “tight as a drum” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.