Confining, Suppressing, or Harming (In): English Vocabulary List

to physically confine or surround a person or thing so closely that they cannot move away or escape

"The cars boxed in the truck."

"The large truck boxed in my car so tightly that I could not pull out of the parking space at all."

to take someone suspected of a crime or violation into custody, typically by law enforcement

"Police will run him in."

"The officers had to run in the suspect for questioning regarding the recent burglary."

to encircle something entirely from all sides

"Shut in the room."

"The little boy shut himself in his room after his parents told him that he could not have any dessert."

to make something, such as an area, a vehicle, or a structure, impossible or difficult to use or enter due to a significant amount of snow

"We were snowed in completely."

"The mountain village was snowed in for three days after a huge blizzard blocked all of the roads."

to remain inside a place, typically one's home, and not go outside for a period of time due to reasons such as illness, personal preference, or safety

"Let's stay in and watch a movie."

"The family decided to stay in and watch a movie rather than go out in the bad weather."

to suppress the expression of one's feelings

"He tried to hold in tears."

"He tried to hold in his laughter during the serious ceremony but it was very difficult."

to murder someone

"They did him in."

"The detective suspected that the victim had been deliberately done in by someone known to him."

(of law enforcers) to arrest someone and take them to the police station

"They will bring him in."

"Authorities decided to bring in the suspect for questioning regarding the recent string of burglaries."

to suppress one's emotions or feelings

"She will keep in."

"It's unhealthy to keep in all your anger; you should find a way to express it."

to shut someone or oneself in a place by locking the door

"Lock in the prisoner."

"The security guard had to lock in the prisoners after the evening count was completed."

to collapse under pressure, often due to structural weakness

"The wall will fall in."

"The old bridge was unable to withstand the heavy storm and began to fall in."

to finally agree to something, even if one were against it at first

"He will cave in."

"Despite his initial resistance, the negotiator eventually managed to make the stubborn leader cave in."

to insistently bring up a sensitive topic in conversation, causing discomfort to the person being discussed

"Don't rub it in."

"It was unkind of him to keep bringing up her past mistakes and rub it in."