What are the definitions of “lock up”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Close all doors, windows, etc..
She LOCKED UP after everyone had left and went home.
- 2Lock something in a safe place.
I LOCKED my money UP in the safe.
- 3Put in prison or a mental hospital.
They LOCKED him UP for burglary.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “lock up”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb lock up is to close and secure all doors, windows, or other entry points of a place, such as a house or a building. This is usually done to ensure the safety and security of the place when it is unoccupied or at night.
What are the different verb forms of “lock up”?
| Root Verb | lock up |
| Third Person Singular Present | locks up |
| Present Participle | locking up |
| Simple Past | locked up |
| Past Participle | locked up |
Example
Please lock up the office before you leave.
Example
She always locks up the house before going to bed.
Example
He is locking up the store for the night.
Example
Yesterday, they locked up the building after the event.
Example
The doors were locked up when we arrived.
What kind of phrasal verb is “lock up”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“lock up” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
She locked up the house before leaving.
Example
He locked the money up in the safe.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“lock up” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
She locked up the house before leaving.
Example
He locked the money up in the safe.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “lock up”?
Good things to know
Does “lock up” have an informal or formal tone?
Lock up is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and can also be used in more formal settings, such as in a workplace or legal context.
