locklock1 /lɒk $ lɑːk/ ●●● S2 W3 verb 
Did you lock the car? I can’t get this drawer to lock.2keep in a safe place [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put something in a place and fasten the door, lid etc with a keylock something in something Lock the cat in the kitchen.3fixed position [intransitive, transitive] to become fixed in one position and impossible to move, or to make something become fixed: The wheels suddenly locked.lock something around/round something He locked his hands around the younger man’s throat. A moment later they were locked in an embrace (=holding each other very tightly in a loving or friendly way). Their eyes locked together (=they could not look away from each other) for an instant.4fixed situation [transitive] if you are locked in a situation, you cannot get out of itbe locked in/into something The two groups are locked in a vicious cycle of killing. The company is locked into a five-year contract.GRAMMAR Lock is usually passive in this meaning.5be locked in battle/combat/dispute etc to be involved in a long, serious argument or fight with someone: They are now locked in a bitter custody battle over the three children.6lock arms if people lock arms, they join their arms tightly with the arms of the people on each side: The police locked arms to form a barrier against the protesters.7lock horns (with somebody) to argue or fight with someone: The band have now locked horns with their record company over the album.—lockable adjectivelock somebody/something ↔ away phrasal verb1to put something in a safe place and lock the door, lid etc SYN lock up: He locked his money away in the safe.2to put someone in prison SYN lock up: I hope they lock him away for years.3lock yourself away to keep yourself separate from other people by staying in your room, office etclock in phrasal verb1 lock somebody in (something) to prevent someone from leaving a room or building by locking the door: She locked herself in. They locked the director in his office.2lock something ↔ in to do something so that a price, offer, agreement etc cannot be changed: Sell your stocks now to lock in some of the gains of recent months.3lock something ↔ in to make the taste, liquid etc remain in something: This method of cooking locks in the flavour of the meat.lock onto something phrasal verb if a missile or satellite locks onto a target or signal, it finds it and follows it closelylock somebody ↔ out phrasal verb1to keep someone out of a place by locking the doorlock out of I locked myself out of the house!2if employers lock workers out, they do not let them enter their place of work until they accept the employers’ conditions for settling a disagreement → lockoutlock up phrasal verb1to make a building safe by locking the doors, especially at night: I’ll leave you to lock up.lock something ↔ up Don’t forget to lock up the warehouse.2lock something ↔ up to put something in a safe place and lock the door, lid etc SYN lock away3lock somebody ↔ up to put someone in prison SYN lock away: Rapists should be locked up.4be locked up (in something) if your money is locked up, you have put it into a business, investment etc and cannot easily move it or use it
VERB TABLE
lock
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | lock |
| he, she, it | locks | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | locked |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have locked |
| he, she, it | has locked | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had locked |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will lock |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have locked |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am locking |
| he, she, it | is locking | |
| you, we, they | are locking | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was locking |
| you, we, they | were locking | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been locking |
| he, she, it | has been locking | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been locking |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be locking |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been locking |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Lock the brakes before you take him out of the stroller.
- Lock the door when you leave.
- As she left the house she locked the door.
- Don't forget to lock the car.
- He locked the safe and put the key in his pocket.
- She was just chewing her dinner and her jaw locked.
- As I said it, I jumped back in the bathroom and locked the door.
- Once he had forgotten to lock Mr Corcoran's office and had been harshly reprimanded.
- She went over and tried one of the handles, but the cabinet was locked.
- That's what Lee had gone home to check, that Caspar was locked up.
- The colored aide and the blond one took me downstairs and let me on to our ward and locked the door behind me.
- Wu panicked and locked the door.
Longman Language Activatorto not let someone enter
to prevent someone from entering a place, for example by locking doors and windows, or building fences: keep out somebody: · He bought a new security system to keep out intruders.keep somebody out: · Family members can go in to visit him, but we need to keep everyone else out.keep somebody out of something: · Try to keep Ed out of the bedroom while I finish wrapping his present.
to shut a door, window etc in order to prevent someone from entering, especially because they would be interrupting you or annoying you: shut out somebody: · He slammed the door, shutting out the dogs.shut somebody out (of something): · John shut everybody out of the kitchen so that he could prepare his grand surprise.
to stop someone from entering a place by locking a door: lock somebody out/lock out somebody: · Her husband threw her out of the trailer without shoes or clothes and locked her out.lock somebody out of something: · I can't believe I locked myself out of the house again.
to refuse to allow someone to enter a country or a public place: refuse somebody entry: · Immigration officials refused her entry because they thought she was planning to stay.refuse entry to somebody: · The management reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone who is improperly dressed.
to refuse to let someone into a place where a public event is happening, especially because it is full: turn somebody away/turn away somebody: · Hundreds of disappointed fans were turned away at the gates.· The club's so popular, we have to turn people away every night.
to officially forbid someone from entering a building or area, especially because they have caused trouble or because it is dangerous for them to go there: · The tavern banned Ted for starting a fight.bar/ban somebody from something: · We've had to bar visitors from the garden because some of the pathways aren't safe.bar/ban somebody for life (=forbidden from entering for the rest of your life): · After the incident at the country club, Chuck was banned for life.
to keep someone in a place as a prisoner to make someone stay in a place and not let them leave, especially as a prisoner: · You can't keep me here against my will - get out of my way.keep somebody in/at etc something: · The guerrillas were keeping the hostages in a camp somewhere in the jungle.· Prisoners were kept in cells with no beds and no running water.
to keep someone somewhere, especially for a short period of time, before deciding what to do with them: · Police are holding two men for questioning in connection with the robbery.· No one knows where the kidnapped woman is being held.hold somebody in/at etc something: · The prisoners were held at Andersonville until more suitable places were found.
to illegally keep someone in a place where they do not want to be, especially as a way of forcing someone to give you money or do what you want: · Police raided the building where rebels were holding 73 government employees captive.hold sb prisoner/captive/hostage in/at etc something: · Four other US citizens are being held hostage by guerrillas in Colombia.· The woman had been held prisoner in Larkin's basement for 3 months.
informal to put someone in a place, especially a prison, and lock it so that they cannot escape: lock somebody up/away: · Didn't they lock his brother away for murder?lock up/away somebody: · The governor argues that locking up criminals has reduced the crime rate.· Prisoners are locked up in their cells for twenty three hours a day.
to keep someone in a room or small place, so that they cannot go where they want to: confine somebody in something: · The boy had been confined in a dark narrow room from early childhood by his parents.confine somebody to something: · The judge is confining the jury to their hotel until after the verdict.
if the police detain someone who they think has done something illegal, they keep them somewhere, usually in order to ask them questions: · Three men from the ship have been detained for questioning by the Harbour Authorities.· The police are now allowed to detain terrorist suspects for as long as a week.
if the police hold or keep someone in custody they keep them in prison until it is time for them to be judged in a court: · McCullough will be kept in custody until her trial on May 3rd.hold/keep somebody in police custody (=in a police station): · A man has been arrested in connection with the murder and is being held in police custody.
to put someone in prison as a punishment also send somebody to prison/jail to officially order someone to be taken to prison and kept there: · Eventually, her attacker was caught and put in prison.· The judge sent him to jail for seven years.
informal to put someone in prison - use this especially when you think that someone deserves to be in prison: lock somebody up: · Rapists deserve to be locked up for the rest of their lives.lock up somebody: · It costs $23,000 a year to lock up an adult.· Locking up more criminals has helped to reduce the crime rate and produce safer streets.
to put someone in prison - use this especially when you think that someone does not deserve to be in prison: · The court's decision suggests that it is OK to throw pregnant women in jail just because they are addicted.· When they called for free elections, the government threw them all in jail.
to put someone in prison for a fixed period of time - used especially in newspaper reports: · Many of the group's leaders have now been jailed.be jailed for (doing) something: · About 5000 people have been jailed for crimes of terrorism or treason since 1992.· Marco was arrested and jailed for accepting bribes from drug dealers.
formal to put someone in prison - use this especially when you think the punishment is wrong or unfair: · Thousands of civilians were arrested, imprisoned and killedbe imprisoned for (doing) something: · Two of the boys have been imprisoned for theft.· The priest had been imprisoned for preaching the gospel.
to put someone in prison - used in newspapers, television etc and in formal contexts: · Carter spent 19 years incarcerated in New Jersey on murder charges.· There are too many people on death row who are innocent of the crimes for which they are incarcerated.
to put someone, especially someone from another country, in prison during a war, because they are thought to be dangerous: · The French soldiers, who had surrendered without fighting, were interned in Hanoi.· Thousands died. And thousands were interned in forced labour camps.
to shut something so that it cannot be opened to shut something such as a door, window, or box by turning a key in a lock: · As she left the house she locked the door.· Don't forget to lock the car.· He locked the safe and put the key in his pocket.
to lock something such as a vehicle or a building: lock up something: · I had locked up my office for the night and gone home.· He always keeps his desk locked up.lock something up: · You should take basic precautions like locking your car up.
to shut a door by sliding a small metal bar across both the door and its frame so that it cannot be opened from the other side: · My husband always bolts all the doors before going to bed.
to shut a door or window and put a bar , a piece of wood, etc across it so that people cannot get in or out: · The owner of the house had barred the back door.· Some of the survivors said that one of the fire exits had been barred.
to prevent someone from entering a room or building by locking the door: · If she wasn't home by midnight her father would lock her out.lock yourself out (=not be able to get back into a place you have locked): · We always leave a key with a neighbour in case we lock ourselves out.
when a door, entrance, lid etc has been shut not open: · Make sure all the windows are shut before you go out.· The gates were closed, and there was no other way in.tight shut: · Keep your eyes tight shut.
something that is locked has been shut using a key: · Jamie tried the door. "It's locked,'' he said.· All office workers should keep their personal belongings in a locked drawer.· I need my coat out of your car -- is it locked?
a door that is bolted has been shut by using a metal bar that slides across and prevents the door from being opened from the other side: · The door's bolted, we'll have to break it down.· Burglars can always find a way in, in spite of bolted doors and windows.
shut with something that prevents air or water from getting in or out: · Plants cannot survive in a sealed jar.· Sealed nuclear waste containers are then enclosed in concrete.
WORD SETSABS, nounacceleration, nounaccelerator, nounairbag, nounambulance, nounantifreeze, nounanti-lock braking system, nounaquaplane, verbarmoured car, nounarticulated, adjectiveauto, nounautomatic, nounautomatic transmission, nounautomobile, nounaxle, nounbackfire, verbback seat, nounbanger, nounbeater, nounbeep, verbbike, nounbiker, nounblind spot, nounblow, verbblowout, nounbody, nounbodywork, nounbonnet, nounbookmobile, nounboot, nounboot, verbbreakdown truck, nounbrights, nounbroadside, verbbulldozer, nounbumper, nounbumper sticker, nounbus, nounbus, verbbus pass, nounbus station, nouncab, nouncab rank, nouncabriolet, nouncabstand, nounCadillac, nouncar, nouncar alarm, nouncarburettor, nouncar park, nouncar pool, nouncarport, nouncarrier, nouncar wash, nounCaterpillar, nouncentral locking, nounchange, verbcharabanc, nounchoke, nounclamp, nounclunker, nouncoach station, nouncoachwork, nouncockpit, nouncompact, nouncompany car, nounconvertible, nouncorner, verbcoupé, nouncourtesy, adjectivecover note, nouncrack-up, nouncrankshaft, nouncrash helmet, nouncruise, verbcruise control, nouncruiser, nouncycle, noundashboard, noundefog, verbdefrost, verbdemist, verbdepot, noundesignated driver, noundiesel, noundiesel fuel, noundifferential gear, noundipstick, noundirt bike, noundirt track, noundisc brakes, noundisengage, verbdismount, verbdistributor, noundouble-decker, noundouble-park, verbdrag race, noundragster, noundrink-driving, noundrive, verbdrive, noundriver, noundriver's education, noundriver's license, noundrive shaft, noundrive-through, noundriving licence, noundriving school, noundriving test, noundrunk driving, noundump truck, noundune buggy, noundust cart, nounemergency brake, nounestate car, nounexcavator, nounexpress, nounfan belt, nounfare, nounfender, nounfender-bender, nounfiller cap, nounfilling station, nounfilter, nounfilter, verbfin, nounfire, verbfire engine, nounfirst gear, nounfishtail, verbflat, adjectiveflat, nounfloorboard, nounfog lamp, nounfour-star, nounfour-wheel drive, nounfreewheel, verbfuel injection, nounfull lock, noungarage, noungarage, verbgarbage truck, noungas-guzzler, noungasohol, noungasoline, noungas pedal, noungas station, noungear, noungearbox, noungear lever, noungear shift, noungear stick, nounglove compartment, noungo-cart, noungo-kart, noungreen light, noungrille, noungritter, nounguardrail, nounhack, nounhackney carriage, nounhandbrake, nounhandlebars, nounhatchback, nounhaulage, nounhazard lights, nounheadlamp, nounheadlight, nounheadroom, nounheap, nounhearse, nounheavy goods vehicle, nounHGV, nounhigh beams, nounhigh-octane, adjectiveHighway Code, nounhijacking, nounhit-and-run, adjectivehitchhike, verbhonk, nounhonk, verbhood, nounhoot, nounhoot, verbhopped-up, adjectivehorsebox, nounhorse trailer, nounhot rod, nounhot-wire, verbhubcap, nounhydroplane, verbignition, nounindicate, verbindicator, nouninner tube, nouninternal combustion engine, nounjack-knife, verbjalopy, nounJeep, nounjuggernaut, nounjump, verbjumper cables, nounjump leads, nounjump-start, verbkickstand, nounkick-start, verbkick-start, nounKlaxon, nounlead-free, adjectivelearner's permit, nounleft-hand drive, adjectivelicense plate, nounlight, nounlimo, nounlimousine, nounlocal, nounlock, verblock, nounlog book, nounlorry, nounlow gear, nounL-plate, nounmagneto, nounmanifold, nounmechanic, nounmeter maid, nounmileage, nounmileometer, nounmilk float, nounminibus, nounminicab, nounminivan, nounmisfire, verbmoped, nounMOT, nounmotocross, nounmotor, nounmotor, adjectivemotor, verbmotorbike, nounmotorcade, nounmotor car, nounmotorcycle, nounmotor home, nounmotoring, nounmotorist, nounmotorized, adjectivemotor pool, nounmotor racing, nounmotor scooter, nounmotor vehicle, nounmoving van, nounmpg, muffler, nounmulti-storey, nounnearside, adjectiveneutral, nounnumber plate, nounoctane, nounodometer, nounomnibus, nounoverdrive, nounovershoot, verbpanel, nounpanel truck, nounpantechnicon, nounpark, verbpark and ride, nounparking, nounparking brake, nounparking garage, nounparking light, nounparking lot, nounparking meter, nounparking ticket, nounpassenger seat, nounpatrol car, nounpatrolman, nounpedal, nounpenalty point, nounpetrol station, nounpick-up, nounpick-up truck, nounpillion, nounpiston ring, nounpit, nounplate, nounplug, nounpneumatic, adjectivepound, nounpower steering, nounprang, verbpremium, nounprovisional licence, nounpush-start, verbrace, verbrace car, nounracing car, nounradar trap, nounradial tyre, nounradiator, nounrank, nounrearview mirror, nounrefuel, verbreg., registration, nounregistration number, nounregular, nounremould, nounremoval van, nounrespray, verbrestraint, nounretread, nounrev, verbreverse, verbreverse, nounreverse gear, nounreversing light, nounride, nounrig, nounright-hand drive, adjectiveroad hog, nounroad rage, nounroad test, nounroadworthy, adjectiveRolls-Royce, nounroof-rack, nounrun, verbrun, nounrunabout, nounRV, nounsaloon, nounsalt truck, nounscooter, nounseat belt, nounsedan, nounself-drive, adjectiveshaft, nounshift, verbshock absorber, nounsidecar, nounsidelight, nounsideswipe, verbsilencer, nounsill, nounslick, nounslipstream, nounsnarl, verbsnarl-up, nounsnow chains, nounsnowmobile, nounsnow plough, nounsnow tire, nounsouped-up, adjectivespare, nounspare tyre, nounsparking plug, nounspark plug, nounspeedometer, nounspeed trap, nounspeedway, nounsplash guard, nounspoiler, nounsports car, nounstall, nounstart, verbstarter, nounstarter motor, nounstation wagon, nounsteamroller, nounsteering, nounstick, nounstick shift, nounstretch limo, nounsump, nounsunroof, nounsupercharged, adjectivesuspension, nountachograph, nountachometer, nountailback, nountailboard, nountailgate, nountailgate, verbtail light, nountailpipe, nountax disc, nountaxi, nountaxicab, nounteamster, nountest certificate, nountest drive, nounthree-point turn, nounthree-wheeler, nounthrottle, nounthrust, nounticket, nountie-up, nountotal, verbtowbar, nountowline, nountowtruck, nountractor, nountraffic jam, nountransmission, nountransporter, nountread, nountrolley, nountrolleybus, nountrucker, nountrucking, nountrunk, nountune, verbtune-up, nounturbocharger, nounturning circle, nounturn signal, nountwo-stroke, adjectiveunleaded, adjectivevalet, nounvalet, verbvan, nounvanity plate, nounveteran car, nounvintage car, nounvisor, nounwheelbase, nounwheel clamp, nounwhiplash, nounwhitewall, nounwindscreen, nounwindscreen wiper, nounwindshield wiper, nounwing, nounwing mirror, nounwiper, nounwreck, nounwrecker, nounwrite-off, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY A moment later they were locked in an embrace (=holding each other very tightly in a loving or friendly way). Their eyes locked together (=they could not look away from each other) for an instant.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES All firearms should be kept securely locked in a cabinet.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
A moment later they were locked in an embrace (=holding each other very tightly in a loving or friendly way). Their eyes locked together (=they could not look away from each other) for an instant. (=that do not cause the wheels to lock and skid if the brakes are used suddenly)· The car comes equipped with anti-lock brakes.
· The click of the latch told me Michele was back.
(=to be using all your effort and attention to fight each other)· Their troops were locked in combat.
(=be involved in one that is difficult to resolve)· Workers and management are locked in a bitter dispute.
· I locked the door and turned out the lights.
British English (=that you rent to keep a car or goods in)· They kept the car in a lock-up garage round the corner.
(=close it with a key/a special lock)· She locked the gate behind her.
(=a fairly thick piece of hair)· She tossed a stray lock of hair back off her forehead.
· I put the key in the lock, but it wouldn’t turn.
All firearms should be kept securely locked in a cabinet.· So always lock up properly, even when you're staying in.· He is preaching to the choir of religious-right Protestants and conservative Catholics whose votes should already be locked up.· Kept me locked up all bleedin' night.· The idea is to prevent what happened Tuesday: the nominations being locked up before California voters voiced their opinions.· He was safely back, then, and locked up.· I was just locking up when Henry came around the corner with Lila Sams.· Nick Frazer was locking up the shop when she came along at one.· With Dole having the nomination all but locked up, will voters in one or more states forsake him?
NOUN· Even so, I locked myself in the bathroom where I could read the story slowly and without fear of interruption.· The young man who died mysteriously in a locked bathroom.· They put pins in their chairs, threw their clothes out of the window and locked them in the bathroom.· The ones on the outer door I can understand, but why lock up the bathroom?· I lock myself in the bathroom.· Con: When you want privacy, you may be forced to lock yourself in the bathroom.
· Last year, when his party was in opposition and locked in a leadership battle, 60% of its supporters voted No.· Budapest Week is now locked in a circulation battle with the new weekly broadsheet, the Budapest Post.· Lomb has been locked in a fierce battle with Johnson&.· For more than a year now Mr Kohl has been locked in a battle to rescue his battered reputation for posterity.
· Daniele will be locked in his bedroom watching the latest batch of video nasties.· She has been coming straight home from work and locking herself in her bedroom.· In two cases, the user was locked in a bedroom for days at a time.· Shut my ears while they're going on at me, run upstairs, lock my bedroom door.· She locked her bedroom door behind her.· If not we may have to lock them in their bedrooms.
· When the terrified actress locked herself in the car, he rammed it with his Ford Bronco.· Around 6 p. m., a woman knocked on the locked door, feigning car trouble and asking to use the phone.· Quickly she locked up the car.· Manion turned off the engine, picked up his stack of envelopes, and locked the car.· Chief Insp Peter Harrison urged motorists to ensure their boots were locked when parking their cars.· However, Inspector Morse's behaviour in not locking his car and in drinking heavily before driving is utterly disgraceful.· I locked my car, crossed, and headed up the circular driveway.
· Both are still locked in commercial combat over the lucrative contract to refit Britain's Trident submarine fleet.· Doctors and hospitals, although locked in increasingly venomous combat with insurers, also are mostly opposed.· Since then, the rebels and the armed forces of Sierra Leone have been locked in combat.· In addition, employees are often locked into combat with each other for a shrinking supply of rewards, and even jobs.· He was reminded of Sir Arnold and Jonathan Ram locked in their mental combat.
· Consultants are locked in a contract dispute with the Government that is likely to drag on until after the election.· But lawmakers remain locked in a partisan dispute over what information House members will have before voting on disciplining the speaker.
· It was 10.30 ... I closed the door behind me and locked it.· The door was locked behind them as soon as they stepped in.· The street door was locked so I pressed the button numbered 11 on the squawk box built into the porch.· The van doors were shut and locked, and it took off.· He closed the door behind him and locked it, as was his habit.· Esther made sure all four doors were locked and insisted we roll up the windows.· He shut the door, locked it again.· I make sure that my car doors are locked.
· They locked the front gates of their Seoul home, my residence, and would not let me out.· Instead, they just lock the gates.· I see Phoenix running toward us and lock the gate.· Only the locked gate and guardhouse bespeak anything more uncommon inside.
· They had packed and Adam had locked up the house.· It's sunset when you leave, locking the quiet house securely behind you.· Much more was locked up in that house than the storeroom at its core.· We locked the house up but we thought we were going back.· Now we're going to lock the house and nobody must go in again.· Should he lock up the house?· The first time it happens is after she has been locked out of the house.
· Quickly, she picked up the key, locked the door, and ran upstairs to be alone in her room.· He was firm, took my keys, locked my door, and drove me to the hospital.
· Kept me locked up all bleedin' night.· One entered through an elephant-sized, brass-studded gate, which was locked at night.· Once the door's been locked at night and the medicine's been round, you're not out until the morning.· We then checked the other cells to see that all the prisoners were locked up for the night.· However, he was not thrown out, he was taken back to the station and locked up for the night.· Somebody must have forgotten to lock a window one night, and designers had managed to get in.
· Once he had forgotten to lock Mr Corcoran's office and had been harshly reprimanded.· He had seldom been happier to lock up the office.· He had been locked out of his office.· I set my mug aside, unplugged the coffeepot, locked the office, and trotted down the back stairs.· Holy-o kept Rowena and the candy money locked in his office until the fellas arrived.· For people like him, we had to lock the office doors.· I locked up the office and walked out of the student center into a thick fog.
· The restraining bar is bolted across our laps and the cage door is locked firmly in place.· Replace lid, lock in place and bring to high pressure for 3 minutes.· But in September Ninety Ninety two of these the pins hadn't been locked back into place.· In some models, the wands are locked awkwardly in place.· Unemployment has played a crucial role both in bringing the underclass into existence and to locking it in place.· Problems Dear Problems: Put your stuff in a safe, locked place.· I rattled the plastic cover over the Amstrad but it was firmly locked in place.· The ramp would be lifted and locked in place, and the truck would pull away.
· It also returns to neutral after the wheels have reached the fully up or locked down position.· Gary stops his chanting and looks at me, his eyes turned upwards from his locked position.
· The desk in the drawing room had not been locked.· Lila had come out of her room, locking it after her.· I went to my room and locked the door and ... I jumped into bed and pulled the duvet right over me.· They put you in a room and lock the door.· One night, after a violent row, Marion ran up to her room and locked the door.· I remember they took me out of the shaving room and locked me in Seclusion.· But she went to her room and locked the door.· She had retired to her room, locked the door, and tried to sleep.
· The boys were burnt in their beds, and as they crushed against a locked door and barred windows.· Julie was busily locking the doors and windows, sliding bolts and turning keys.· Somebody must have forgotten to lock a window one night, and designers had managed to get in.· Capitol police bolted and locked all the windows, in case a prowler was coming in after everyone had left: no luck.· As soon as nightfall arrived, she found herself locking doors, shutting windows, and finding strange solace in being barred and bolted.
VERB· Once more the trees began to close in, locking them into their own tiny world.· I closed the door, locked up, and went to work.· He then closed and locked the boxes.· You've closed your heart and locked her inside it.· I closed the door and locked it.· They closed and locked behind you automatically.· Dale's own bedroom door was closed and locked.
· But when he tried to get into the maternity wing he found the doors were locked.· Once there, Andre finds the gate locked.· And when they both come to Dunbar, chapping on this door, they will find it locked and barred.· Customers stopping by to drink coffee and check on the markets screen found themselves locked out.· There they had to wait some time until the Constable could find the key and lock the door on them.· One of them was found locked and secure.· Close to Christmas 1983 I arrived at the pub to find it locked and shuttered.· Afterward, a number of people may well report that they found their knees were locked.
· Once he had forgotten to lock Mr Corcoran's office and had been harshly reprimanded.· Apparently, the Altar Guild had been in to arrange the flowers and had forgotten to lock the side door.· I had forgotten to lock that.· The place was burglarized because she raised the window to admire a sunset and forgot to lock it.· Somebody must have forgotten to lock a window one night, and designers had managed to get in.· Often Leanna forgot to lock the back door.· I can only get in when he forgets to lock the door.· You've never forgotten to lock up in your life.
· Did you think you could, we could, keep her locked up here for ever?· We mustn't keep it locked away in the closet lest it turn to dust.· I tried to keep them locked, as I had seen Hilda do before she subsided into compliance.· That one gram's credit will keep you locked in to your dealer.· We keep the door locked because we get unwelcome guests.· Any of the thoughts that hung around she kept locked up tight, even from herself.· Well well well, now why do you reckon they keep the toothpaste locked up?
· It's sunset when you leave, locking the quiet house securely behind you.· In search of a bathroom, I leave Mike and Ann locked in their exchange and head toward the kitchen.· In the early hours of the morning, Henry left the gathering and locked himself alone, inside a friends room.· They left their Nissan Bluebird locked in a free car park after refusing to pay the 40p fee at one nearby.· He left the office and locked that door too.· With a deep sigh, I left the room and locked it behind me.· The khthons had untied them and left a torch before locking the dungeon door.· Ten minutes later he left the tower, locking the door after him.
· Only a handful of nagging doubts remained, locked at the back of his mind and these soon seemed hazy and foolish.· For years its front door remained locked.· But lawmakers remain locked in a partisan dispute over what information House members will have before voting on disciplining the speaker.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► lock somebody in (something)► lock something ↔ in► lock something ↔ in► lock something ↔ up► lock somebody ↔ up► be locked in battle/combat/dispute etcPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► be (caught/locked/stuck) in a time warp
1fasten something [intransitive, transitive] to fasten something, usually with a key, so that other people cannot open it, or to be fastened like this: - In fact, the feuding agencies were about to lock horns and starve over the first two dams on their priority lists.
- Louis throws a chair at Victor; they lock horns and wrestle.
- The big beasts of medical ethics have been locking horns, the rationalists against the religious as usual.
- Who had once locked horns with superpowers.
- At other times he suffers periods of deep depression when he locks himself away and will speak to no-one for weeks.
- He ought to lock himself away from them.
- If Eisen was actually in New York, she had an added reason for locking herself away.
- It got to the stage where she would lock herself away and not talk to me, or else have endless arguments.
- Morrissey, in particular, would lock himself away behind a shield of management statements and subsequent verbal minders.
- All the back-benchers lit Parliament were locked up along with the six ministers at State House.
- His fa-ther was locked up somewhere in a place called Applegate.
- I was locked up for nine years, you know that?
- It was locked up somewhere round at the back.
- Much more was locked up in that house than the storeroom at its core.
- That's what Lee had gone home to check, that Caspar was locked up.
- Fifty students locked arms to block the entrance to the building.
- This is not to say that Brownmiller has written a sanguine portrait of sisters locking arms in struggle.
- He'd forced a window to get into the ground floor maisonette in the Belmont area of Hereford.
- House raid: Intruders forced a window at the front of a house in Ripon.
- The forced door especially terrified me.
- The burglars are believed to have forced a window.
- Attached to the ring was the piece of wire he used to pick locks.
- He had taught them how to pick a lock, steal a car, to shoplift ... The list was endless.
- If I can pick a lock open, I ought to be able to pick it shut.
Did you lock the car? I can’t get this drawer to lock.2keep in a safe place [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put something in a place and fasten the door, lid etc with a keylock something in something Lock the cat in the kitchen.3fixed position [intransitive, transitive] to become fixed in one position and impossible to move, or to make something become fixed: The wheels suddenly locked.lock something around/round something He locked his hands around the younger man’s throat. A moment later they were locked in an embrace (=holding each other very tightly in a loving or friendly way). Their eyes locked together (=they could not look away from each other) for an instant.4fixed situation [transitive] if you are locked in a situation, you cannot get out of itbe locked in/into something The two groups are locked in a vicious cycle of killing. The company is locked into a five-year contract.GRAMMAR Lock is usually passive in this meaning.5be locked in battle/combat/dispute etc to be involved in a long, serious argument or fight with someone: They are now locked in a bitter custody battle over the three children.6lock arms if people lock arms, they join their arms tightly with the arms of the people on each side: The police locked arms to form a barrier against the protesters.7lock horns (with somebody) to argue or fight with someone: The band have now locked horns with their record company over the album.—lockable adjectivelock somebody/something ↔ away phrasal verb1to put something in a safe place and lock the door, lid etc SYN lock up: He locked his money away in the safe.2to put someone in prison SYN lock up: I hope they lock him away for years.3lock yourself away to keep yourself separate from other people by staying in your room, office etclock in phrasal verb1 lock somebody in (something) to prevent someone from leaving a room or building by locking the door: She locked herself in. They locked the director in his office.2lock something ↔ in to do something so that a price, offer, agreement etc cannot be changed: Sell your stocks now to lock in some of the gains of recent months.3lock something ↔ in to make the taste, liquid etc remain in something: This method of cooking locks in the flavour of the meat.lock onto something phrasal verb if a missile or satellite locks onto a target or signal, it finds it and follows it closelylock somebody ↔ out phrasal verb1to keep someone out of a place by locking the doorlock out of I locked myself out of the house!2if employers lock workers out, they do not let them enter their place of work until they accept the employers’ conditions for settling a disagreement → lockoutlock up phrasal verb1to make a building safe by locking the doors, especially at night: I’ll leave you to lock up.lock something ↔ up Don’t forget to lock up the warehouse.2lock something ↔ up to put something in a safe place and lock the door, lid etc SYN lock away3lock somebody ↔ up to put someone in prison SYN lock away: Rapists should be locked up.4be locked up (in something) if your money is locked up, you have put it into a business, investment etc and cannot easily move it or use it- Private Eye
- private eye
- Private Finance Initiative
- private income
- private investigator
- private law
- private limited company
- privately
- private medicine
- private member
- private member's bill
- private parts
- private patient
- private practice
- private school
- private secretary
- private sector
- private soldier
- private view
- privation
- privatization
- privatize
- privet
- privilege
- privileged