Is "until mine is on tight" an idiom?

Question

I was studying English, so I downloaded a comprehension reading test and I found a phrase which I can't understand:

Seat belts save lives and that's a fact. That's why I don't drive anywhere until mine is on tight.

I think that it's an idiom because I don't find word definitions that help me understand the phrase.

A seatbelt is something you put on, and you can make it tight. — Robusto, Sep 22, 2019 at 21:14
@AldairRev - Maybe what's hanging you up is "Mine is on." Compare this with: A: Please put on your jacket. B: I already have it on. What B meant was, "I am already wearing my jacket. — aparente001, Sep 23, 2019 at 5:00
"on tightly" would be clearer but less idiomatic; a comma after on would increase both parts. — Tim Lymington, Sep 23, 2019 at 11:06

DJClayworth · Accepted Answer · 2019-12-31 14:42:49Z

39

It's not an idiom. Each word means exactly what it says.

Mine means 'my one', referring back to the seat belt.

On tight means exactly what it says - fitted securely. So

I will not drive anywhere until my seat belt is fitted securely.

answered Sep 22, 2019 at 21:16

DJClayworth

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7

also note that the implied object of the preposition 'on' is [me], and 'tight' is adverbial, so a paraphrase would be "until my seat belt is on me tightly".
– AmI
Sep 23, 2019 at 5:53
20

I'd say that "on" means "worn, donned," not "attached." Just like how "I have a hat on" indicates that the hat is worn, not that the hat is attached.
– Tanner Swett
Sep 23, 2019 at 10:58
3

'on' can have very many meanings. I would not disagree with 'worn' here.
– DJClayworth
Sep 23, 2019 at 12:53
1

I think it's worth being explicit that using "tight" as an adverb here is colloquial. I think it would be clearer to change it to "... until mine is on tightly", or perhaps even "... until mine is on, tightly".
– Glenn Willen
Sep 24, 2019 at 15:34
Colloquial but extremely common.
– DJClayworth
Sep 24, 2019 at 15:35

| Show 2 more comments

Luiz Silveira · Accepted Answer · 2019-09-23 19:35:07Z

" I don't drive anywhere until mine is on tight."

If you built this sentence bit by bit, it would go like this:

I don't drive anywhere until my belt is on.
I don't drive anywhere until my belt is on tight. [the belt is tight, snugly fit]
I don't drive anywhere until mine is on tight.

So each word (after until) means this:

Until: while the following doesn't occur.
Mine: reffers to [my] "seat belt" in the previous sentence.
Is on: the belt is on = the belt is in place [i.e. the belt is fastened]
Tight: the belt is fastened tight [i.e. the belt is tight and safety is assured].

2 Answers 2