hemming in
Closing off escape
To hem in is to surround or confine, restricting movement or options: Mountains hemmed in the valley, She felt hemmed in by her responsibilities.
The phrase suggests enclosure from multiple sides, creating a sense of being trapped or constrained.
Hemming in can be physical or figurative—armies hem in enemy forces, obligations hem in personal freedom.
- cordoningEnclosing with a barrier
- boxing inRestricting movement by surrounding
- limitationBound on extent
- enclosureConfined, bordered space
- encirclementSurrounding enemy forces completely
circling the wagons · barricade · isolation · constraint · trapping · no escape · narrowing · besieging · pinned down · exclusion · blockade · cutting off · imprisonment · closing in · walling · inhibition · cornering · suppression
- closing innearing, approaching, converging, zeroing in, encircling
hemming inreleasing
Allowing to escape
freeing · letting out · opening up · uncaging · spreading out
hemming inliberating
Setting free from constraint
setting free · freeing · unleashing · emancipating · unshackling
hemming infalling back
Returning to earlier position
breaking out · giving ground · retreating · dispersing · disengaging