tight as Dick's hatband

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Very tight, whether: — Very tight-fitting.

Register: colloquial, dated

Where it’s used: Used American English
Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Very tight, whether: — Very tight with money, very stingy.

Register: colloquial, dated

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “tight as Dick's hatband” mean?

Very tight, whether: — Very tight-fitting.

Is “tight as Dick's hatband” formal or informal?

tight as Dick's hatband is generally colloquial, dated.