shut somebody/something ↔ away phrasal verb (see also shut)

1. to put someone or something in a place away from other people where they cannot be seen:
A lot of people are classed as mad and shut away unnecessarily.

2. shut yourself away to deliberately avoid seeing people by staying at home or going to a quiet place, especially because you are very unhappy or want to study, write etc:
When news came of Robin’s death, she shut herself away and saw no one.
shut yourself away in
She shut herself away in her room to work on her novel.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲