stitch up

verb

stitched up; stitching up; stitches up
1
: to use a needle and thread to close a large cut or wound
The doctor stitched up his wound.
The doctor stitched him up.
2
British, informal : to make (an innocent person) appear to be guilty of a crime : frame
They stitched him up for murder.
3
British, informal : to do the final things that are needed to complete (something) in a successful way : to finish or do (something) successfully
The mayor stitched up a deal with the union.
We were ahead by 10 points and thought that we had the game stitched up.

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Cite this Entry

“Stitch up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stitch%20up. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

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