What Does “Lock sb out” Mean?
“Lock sb out” means to prevent someone from entering a place by locking the door or gate, so they cannot get inside.
Introduction
The phrase “lock sb out” is commonly used when someone is stopped from entering a building, room, or any enclosed space because the door is locked. This phrasal verb is helpful in many daily situations, such as forgetting your keys or being excluded from a meeting. Understanding the “lock sb out” meaning can improve your conversational English and help you describe situations involving locked doors or restricted access. It is a useful expression for both formal and informal contexts.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: lock sb out (lock somebody out)
- Type: Transitive
- Level: A2–B2
- Short meaning: To prevent someone from entering by locking the door
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Lock sb out” is a separable phrasal verb which means you can place the object (sb) between the verb and the particle, or after the particle.
- lock someone out
- lock out someone
Both forms are correct, but “lock sb out” is more common in everyday English.
How to Use “Lock sb out”?
You use “lock sb out” when describing situations where a person cannot enter a place because the door is locked. It often implies that the person is unintentionally or intentionally excluded. It is used with a person as the object (sb = somebody).
Example: “I accidentally locked my brother out of the house.”
Examples
Imagine you come home and realize you forgot your key. You might say:
- “I locked myself out of the apartment this morning.”
- “She locked her kids out by mistake.”
- “The manager locked the employees out after hours.”
- “Don’t lock me out; I have the report you need.”
- “He was locked out of the office because he lost his access card.”
These examples show how “lock sb out” is used in everyday language.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the word order or use incorrect objects with “lock sb out.”
- Incorrect: “Lock out the door someone.”
- Correct: “Lock someone out of the door.”
- Incorrect: “Lock out the house.”
- Correct: “Lock someone out of the house.”
Remember, the object should be a person, not a thing, and the phrase should clearly indicate who is locked out.
Differences / Synonyms
Sometimes people confuse “lock sb out” with “lock out” or “shut out.”
- Lock out: Usually means to prevent entry without specifying a person (e.g., “The workers were locked out during the strike.”).
- Shut out: Often used metaphorically to mean excluding someone from an event or opportunity (e.g., “He was shut out of the meeting.”).
“Lock sb out” specifically means locking a person outside a physical space.
Common Collocations
The verb “lock sb out” is often used with places or objects related to entry:
- House – prevent someone from entering their home
- Room – lock someone outside a room
- Office – restrict access to a workplace
- Car – lock someone outside a vehicle
- Building – deny entry to a larger structure
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of lock sb out:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a simple conversation using “lock sb out”:
Anna: I can’t get inside! I think I locked myself out.
Ben: Oh no! Do you have a spare key?
Anna: Yes, but it’s inside the house. Can you help me get in?
Ben: Sure! Let me try the back door.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “lock sb out”:
- He accidentally __________ his sister __________ of the house.
- Don’t __________ me __________; I forgot my keys!
- They were __________ out of the office after hours.
FAQs
- Q: Can “lock sb out” be used for animals?
A: It is usually used for people, but sometimes for pets if they are locked outside a room or house.
- Q: Is “lock sb out” formal or informal?
A: It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
- Q: What is the difference between “lock out” and “lock sb out”?
“Lock out” is more general; “lock sb out” specifies the person being locked out.
- Q: Can I say “lock myself out”?
Yes, it means you accidentally prevented yourself from entering by locking the door.
- Q: Is “lock sb out” separable?
Yes, you can put the object between the verb and particle or after the particle.
