be locked in sth
— phrasal verb with lock uk/lɒk/us/lɑːk/verb
to be prevented from moving by something:
We were locked in traffic for over two hours on the way home.
If you are locked in a situation or process, it is impossible for you to escape or make progress from it:
Both parties wish to avoid being locked in discussions that will resolve nothing.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Immobility
- boxed in
- budge
- catatonic
- firm
- glue
- glued to the spot idiom
- grind to a halt/standstill idiom
- hold
- jam
- jammed
- motionless
- move
- not move a muscle idiom
- rest
- rock-solid
- sedentary
- stagnant
- static
- transfix
- unwavering
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Lack of freedom to act