These are meant to imply that you have some sort of spiritual connection with a person, place, or thing, which connects you in some way that isn't usual. For example, husband and wife are thought to have more than a simple legal connection to each other - and I'd agree that's the case.
However, some people take it to extremes, invoking ideas like (generational) curses, demons that follow certain families or individuals, haunted houses, love spells that bind you to another, etc. While there are things going on behind the scenes, these systems look like superstition and magic. Most problems are not caused by ties, but bad communication, boredom, and the human desire for drama.
If you ever find yourself burning a photo or burying a jar to cut a spiritual tie with someone, for example, that's plain old hoodoo.