When she did not laugh, his hold on the stick tightened.

He didn't answer her question and his hold tightened so she couldn't ask any more of her own.

She tried to fight free of him, but his hold on her only tightened.

His hold on Vandy tightened as he pushed the boy along.

She clung to him, and his hold tightened even more.

Donald's hold on her tightened, just as Nick's had hours before.

She tried to jerk free but the hold only tightened.

I made as though to move away, but his hold on me tightened.

Tory tried to push him away, but his hold only tightened.

The military was only waiting until its hold on the people had tightened before carrying it out.