What Does “Lock sth out of sth” Mean?
The phrase “lock something out of something” means to prevent someone or something from entering or accessing a place or resource by locking it. It often implies deliberately stopping access.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “lock sth out of sth” is commonly used to describe situations where access is denied by locking. For example, you might lock yourself out of your house if you forget your keys. Understanding the “lock sth out of sth” meaning helps learners use it correctly in different contexts, such as homes, digital accounts, or even abstract ideas like locking emotions out of one’s mind. This phrase is practical in everyday conversation and writing, making it important to know both its meaning and usage.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: lock something out of something
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To prevent access by locking
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Lock sth out of sth” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object between “lock” and “out” or after the entire phrase.
- lock something out of something
- lock out something of something
Both structures are correct, but the first is more common.
How to Use “Lock sth out of sth”?
Use “lock sth out of sth” when you want to describe blocking access to a place, device, or resource by locking it. It often involves physical locks but can also be metaphorical.
Examples include:
- Locking yourself out of your house
- Locking a team out of a building
- Locking data out of a system
It can also describe emotional or mental blocking, though less common.
Examples
Imagine you left your keys inside your car and can’t open the door. You have locked yourself out of the car.
- She accidentally locked herself out of the apartment and had to call a locksmith.
- The workers were locked out of the office after hours because they forgot their access cards.
- He locked the children out of the house while cleaning inside.
- After too many failed attempts, the system locked me out of my account.
- Don’t lock your feelings out of your mind; it’s healthier to express them.
These examples show “lock sth out of sth in a sentence” in different real-life contexts.
Common Mistakes
People sometimes confuse the word order or use the phrase incorrectly.
- Incorrect: I locked out of the house myself.
- Correct: I locked myself out of the house.
- Incorrect: They locked the office out of the workers.
- Correct: They locked the workers out of the office.
Remember to include the person or thing being locked out before “out of.”
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “lock out,” “lock up,” and “shut out.”
- Lock out: Usually means not allowing entry, often used in general without specifying what is locked out. For example, “The landlord locked us out.”
- Lock up: Means to secure a place by locking all doors and windows, not necessarily preventing someone from entering.
- Shut out: Can mean to exclude or prevent participation, often in sports or competitions.
“Lock sth out of sth” specifically emphasizes the object being denied access by locking.
Common Collocations
Here are some frequent objects used with “lock out of” and their meanings:
- House: Preventing entry into a home
- Car: Preventing access to a vehicle
- Account: Denying access to an online or bank account
- Room: Preventing entry into a specific room
- System: Blocking access to a computer system
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of lock sth out of sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using the phrasal verb:
Anna: Oh no! I locked myself out of my apartment again.
Ben: Did you forget your keys inside?
Anna: Yes, and now I have to wait for a locksmith.
Ben: That’s frustrating. Maybe get a spare key next time.
Practice
Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “lock sth out of sth”:
- If you forget your password, the system will ______ you ______ your account.
- She ______ herself ______ the car because she left the keys inside.
- The manager ______ the employees ______ the office after hours.
Answers:
- lock / out of
- locked / out of
- locked / out of
FAQs
- What does “lock sth out of sth” mean? It means to prevent someone or something from entering or accessing a place or resource by locking it.
- Is “lock sth out of sth” separable? Yes, you can separate the object from the phrasal verb.
- Can it be used metaphorically? Yes, it can describe blocking emotions or thoughts.
- What is the difference between “lock out” and “lock out of”? “Lock out” is more general, while “lock out of” specifies what is being denied access.
- Can “lock sth out of sth” be used in digital contexts? Yes, it’s common to say “lock someone out of an account or system.”
