hemmed up

Meanings

1. 1adjectivenot comparableinformalAmerican

   Stuck in a difficult situation or delayed, often because of something you cannot easily escape.

   Grammar: Used after a linking verb like 'be' or 'get': 'I got hemmed up in traffic.' It is not used before a noun.

   Patterns

   • get hemmed up
   • be hemmed up in something

   I got hemmed up in traffic and missed the start of the meeting.

   We were hemmed up in a long line at the airport.

   Don't get hemmed up in their argument; just stay out of it.

2. 2adjectivenot comparableinformalAmerican

   Surrounded or blocked so that movement is difficult.

   Grammar: Used after a linking verb: 'The car was hemmed up by parked trucks.'

   Patterns

   • be hemmed up by something
   • hemmed up against something

   The protesters were hemmed up against the fence by the crowd.

   Our car was hemmed up by two delivery vans and we couldn't get out.

   The small boat was hemmed up in the narrow channel.

3. 3adjectivenot comparableslangAmerican

   Arrested or held by the police; in trouble with the law.

   Grammar: Used after a linking verb: 'He got hemmed up last night.' This sense is slang and mainly American.

   Patterns

   • get hemmed up
   • be hemmed up by the police

   He got hemmed up by the police for something he didn't do.

   She warned her brother not to get hemmed up with that crowd.

   They were hemmed up for hours before being released.

Common combinations

get hemmed up

I got hemmed up at work and couldn't leave on time.

hemmed up in traffic

We were hemmed up in traffic for over an hour.

hemmed up by the police

He was hemmed up by the police after the fight.

hemmed up against a wall

The suspect was hemmed up against a wall.

Synonyms and how they differ

stuck

Stuck is more general and neutral; hemmed up is informal and often suggests being trapped by people or circumstances.

delayed

Delayed is neutral and formal; hemmed up is informal and suggests being held up in a frustrating way.

trapped

Trapped is stronger and more literal; hemmed up is informal and can also mean simply delayed.

Opposites

Word family

hem verb

To surround or restrict someone's movement, often used in 'hem in'.

Commonly confused: hemmed up or hem in?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “hemmed up”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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