tighten, titan

Tighten or tighten means to secure, fix, or fasten more securely--
Will you tighten the screws, so the door doesn't hang crooked?
Don't pull on it; you'll only tighten the knot.

Titan or titan ( rhymes with titan ) means a giant; or a thing or business of great size or power--
He was a titan of industry; and often spoke to large crowds.
In the child's eyes, he was a titan, and sometimes a hero.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He tried not to move, for fear that the titan would tighten his grasp, and crush him."