lock down

To prevent people from entering or leaving a place, often to protect them from danger.

• Police locked down the building.
• The school was locked down after a threat.
• Officials locked the city down to slow the disease.

How to use it: lock something down / lock down something (Police locked the station down.)

Similar words: seal off, close off

Opposites: reopen

Common phrases: lock down a school, lock down an area

To make an agreement or plan definite so that it will not change.

• Let’s lock down a date.
• We locked the deal down before the holiday.
• Have you locked down the details of the wedding yet?

How to use it: lock something down / lock down something (We locked the final date down yesterday.)

Similar words: finalize, confirm, settle

Common phrases: lock down a date, lock down the details

To fasten something firmly or make it safe from being moved or taken.

• Lock down the equipment before we leave.
• They locked the cargo down with heavy straps.
• Have you locked the loose machinery down?

How to use it: lock something down / lock down something (The crew locked the equipment down.)

Similar words: secure, fasten

Opposites: release

Common phrases: lock down something, lock down equipment

To allow only approved people or actions on a computer or network.

• We need to lock down the network.
• The company locked its computers down after the attack.
• Can you lock this server down so only approved users have access?

How to use it: lock something down / lock down something (The administrator locked the server down.)

Similar words: secure, restrict access to

Common phrases: lock down a network, lock down a computer

To get someone to agree to a romantic relationship in which neither person dates anyone else.

• He wants to lock her down as his girlfriend.
• She finally locked him down after months of casual dating.
• You cannot lock someone down if they do not want a relationship.

How to use it: lock someone down / lock down someone (He wanted to lock her down as his girlfriend.)

Similar words: get to commit

Common phrases: lock down someone, lock down a partner

To travel by boat through canal locks towards a lower water level.

• We locked down to the lower canal.
• The boat locked down through four chambers before lunch.
• They will lock down towards the river tomorrow.

How to use it: lock down through something (We locked down through three chambers.)

Similar words: descend through locks

Opposites: lock up

Common phrases: lock down the canal, lock down through gates