lock up
[verb]
Synonyms: imprison, cage, confine, detain, incarcerate, jail, put behind bars, shut up

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

lock up phrasal verb (see also lock)

1. to make a building safe by locking the doors, especially at night:
I’ll leave you to lock up.
lock something ↔ up
Don’t forget to lock up the warehouse.

2. lock something ↔ up to put something in a safe place and lock the door, lid etc Synonym : lock away

3. lock somebody ↔ up to put someone in prison Synonym : lock away:
Rapists should be locked up.

4. be locked up (in something) if your money is locked up, you have put it into a business, investment etc and cannot easily move it or use it

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

ˈlock-up noun [countable]

1. a small prison where a criminal can be kept for a short time

2. (also lock-up garage) British English a garage that you can rent to keep cars, goods etc in

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

lock something up
to be assured of success
The candidate has already locked up the nomination to be a candidate in the next election.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

lock up
to be assured of success
The candidate has already locked up the nomination to be a candidate in the next election.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

lock up
v. phr., slang To be assured of success.
How did your math test go?
■ I locked it up, I think.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲