Collocations for tighten - verb

a little, slightly, etc.
considerably
gradually, slowly
suddenly
instinctively, involuntarily, unconsciously
Her fingers tightened unconsciously with every jolt she received.

painfully
up
Can you tighten up the bolts for me?

seem to
feel sth
He felt his stomach tighten.

make sth
His words made her throat tighten.

about (BrE), around, round (esp. BrE)
His hand tightened painfully around her wrist.

on
Her grip seemed to tighten on the door handle.

in
He saw his father's jaw tighten in irritation.

into
His mouth tightened into a thin hard line.

with
Her face tightened with pain.

Tighten is used with these nouns as the subject:
arm, chest, face, fist, grip, hand, jaw, lip, mouth, muscle, noose, shoulder, stomach, throat

Tighten is used with these nouns as the object:
ban, belt, blockade, bolt, censorship, control, embargo, embrace, fist, grasp, grip, hold, jaw, knot, loophole, muscle, noose, nut, regulation, rein, restriction, rope, screw, security, strap, string, supervision