lock out
phrasal verblock somebody/yourself out (of something)
- to prevent somebody from entering a place by locking the door
- I'd locked myself out of the house and had to break a window to get in.
lock somebody out
- (of an employer) to refuse to allow workers into their place of work until they agree to particular conditions related noun lockoutTopics Working lifec2
- to prevent somebody from taking part in something
- people who are locked out of the job market because they have a criminal record