Definition
to lock (someone) up / away: to imprison (someone), to put (someone) in prison, to put (someone) in a place where no-one can find them
Horatio locked the monkeys up in the broom closet during the client's tour of the offices. He locked the door with the key so that they couldn't get out.
Bruno always locks up his important documents before leaving on business trips. He puts them in a safe place so that he won't lose them.
to lock someone in (a closet): to shut, enclose, trap somebody in (a wardrobe or cupboard)
locked up: secured, enclosed; in prison, in jail; unable to leave a place
Chang has been locked up in prison for the last 24 hours. He is in a secure cell and cannot leave.
- "Brian : Bruno, please don't lock me in your office again!"
- "Bruno Delavigne! Lock him in his office!"
- "It's not the first time I've noticed this bike, but today I paused to take a closer look and I was rather shocked to discover that it's not locked up!"
- "Leonard : In Europe, if workers want to make themselves heard, they lock the bosses in their offices, then they negotiate."
- "I've already tried calling you twice, but you must be locked up in the laboratory or something."
- "You can't keep them locked up in this, in a garage."
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