Meaning & use
a lock-in
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountableBritishinformal
an occasion when a pub stays open after normal closing time and only regular customers are allowed to stay
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a lock-in' or 'two lock-ins'.
Patterns
- have a lock-in
- a lock-in at a pub
The landlord kept the pub open for a quiet lock-in after the last bell.
We stayed for a lock-in and talked until two in the morning.
nouncountableAmericaninformal
a meeting or event where people are locked inside a place and not allowed to leave until they finish or reach a decision
Grammar: Countable; often used in political or business contexts.
Patterns
- a lock-in with someone
- hold a lock-in
The committee held a lock-in to agree on the budget.
Union leaders called for a lock-in with management to end the dispute.
Word forms
| plural | lock-ins |
|---|
Common combinations
- pub lock-in
- The pub lock-in lasted until the early hours.
- after-hours lock-in
- They had an after-hours lock-in for staff and friends.
- hold a lock-in
- The council decided to hold a lock-in to settle the issue.
Synonyms and how they differ
- after-hours session
- A general phrase; 'lock-in' is more specific and usually implies a pub or a closed meeting.
Commonly confused: a lock-in or lockout?
a lock-in vs lockout
A lockout is when an employer stops workers from entering their workplace; a lock-in keeps people inside.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'lock-in' in the British pub sense?
Choose one answer.
In British English a lock-in is when a pub stays open after hours for regulars, so option B fits. Option A describes a meeting, which is the American sense, and options C and D are not standard uses of the word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a lock-in”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.