What Does โLock sb awayโ Mean?
โLock sb awayโ means to put someone in a secure place, usually to keep them confined or imprisoned. It often refers to physically locking a person inside a room or building.
Introduction
The phrase โlock sb awayโ is a common English phrasal verb used to describe the action of confining someone by locking them in a place. This could be for safety, punishment, or protection. Understanding the lock sb away meaning helps learners use it correctly in both formal and informal contexts. It is often associated with prisons, mental health facilities, or sometimes even simple situations like locking a child in their room for discipline. Knowing how to use this phrase naturally improves your English communication skills.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: lock somebody away
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To put someone in a locked place to keep them confined
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โLock sb awayโ is a separable phrasal verb, which means you can place the object (somebody) between the verb and the particle or after the particle.
- lock somebody away
- lock away somebody
Examples:
- The guards locked the prisoner away.
- They locked away the dangerous criminal.
How to Use โLock sb awayโ?
Use โlock sb awayโ when talking about placing someone in a locked space. It is often used in legal, medical, or security contexts but can also appear in everyday speech. The phrase focuses on the action of confinement, usually for safety or punishment. It requires an object (someone) after โlockโ and is followed by โawayโ to express removal or isolation.
Examples
Here are some examples using โlock sb away in a sentenceโ to show how it works in context:
- The police decided to lock the suspect away until the trial.
- After his dangerous behavior, they locked him away in a secure facility.
- She was locked away in her room for breaking the rules.
- The government locked away the criminals to protect society.
- They locked away the evidence to keep it safe.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse the word order or use the phrase without an object. Here are some typical errors:
- Incorrect: They locked away.
- Correct: They locked him away.
- Incorrect: Lock away the prisoner.
- Correct: Lock the prisoner away.
Remember, โlock sb awayโ needs a person or someone to be locked in the sentence.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include โlock up,โ โput away,โ and โshut away.โ While all involve confinement, โlock sb awayโ emphasizes locking someone in a secure place, often with a sense of long-term or formal confinement.
- Lock up: Can mean locking people or objects inside, often temporary.
- Put away: Usually means to imprison someone.
- Shut away: Less common, means to isolate or hide someone.
โLock sb awayโ is more formal and specific about locking someone inside a place.
Common Collocations
Here are some common objects or people used with โlock sb awayโ:
- Prisoner: Lock a prisoner away for crimes.
- Criminal: Lock a criminal away to protect others.
- Suspect: Lock a suspect away during investigation.
- Child: Lock a child away for discipline (less common, informal).
- Patient: Lock a patient away in a mental hospital.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of lock sb away:
Real-life Dialogue
Hereโs a short conversation using โlock sb awayโ:
Emma: Did they really lock him away after the robbery?
John: Yes, the judge decided to lock him away for five years.
Emma: That sounds serious.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
- a) They locked away the prisoner until the trial.
- b) They locked the prisoner away until the trial.
- c) They locked the prisoner.
Answer: b) They locked the prisoner away until the trial.
FAQs
- Q: Can โlock sb awayโ be used for objects?
A: No, it is mainly used for people. - Q: Is โlock sb awayโ formal or informal?
A: It is mostly formal or neutral language. - Q: Can I say โlock away sbโ?
A: Yes, but โlock sb awayโ is more common. - Q: Does โlock sb awayโ always mean prison?
A: Not always; it can mean any locked confinement. - Q: Is โlock sb awayโ separable?
A: Yes, you can separate the object from the verb and particle.
