Tight hold locks tap for Spooner (4,3)

I believe the answer is:

bear hug

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'tight hold' is the definition.
'bear hug' can be an answer for 'hold' (thesaurus). I'm not sure about the 'tight' bit.

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for bear hug that I've seen before include "tight squeeze" , "Stifling embrace" , "Rough tight embrace" , "Wrestling hold" , "Vigorous embrace" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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