lock down

Secure the premises

Lock down means to secure a place by restricting movement in or out, typically during an emergency: The school went into lockdown after a threat.

Prisons lock down to confine inmates to cells.

The term gained wider currency during the COVID-19 pandemic for broad restrictions on public movement.

To lock something down can also mean to finalize or secure it: We need to lock down the details before Friday.

restrict

quarantine

Isolation preventing disease transmission

isolationComplete separation from others
confinementState of being restricted
lockdownEnforced restriction on movement

curfew · shutdown · containment · shelter-in-place · stay-at-home · closure · restriction · mandate · enforcement · compliance

secure

seal

Authentication stamp or mark

fortifyMake stronger against threat
barricadeObstacle blocking a path
boltThreaded rod for nuts

latch · deadbolt · reinforce · safeguard · protect · alarm · access control · perimeter · checkpoint · entry point

finalize

confirm

Validate as true

commitBind to a course
solidifyMake or become hard
cementCalcium powder binding agent

settle · establish · guarantee · secure · set · fix · formalize · ratify · close · sign off

Categories

expressions about containmentboxed in, bottled up, hemmed in, penned in, shut in
securingfasten, secure, latch, bolt, padlock
restrainhold back, suppress, hold in, keep in, restrain
hold downpin, grip, press, secure, fasten
seizinggrab, seize, grasp, clutch, snatch

Opposites

access and movement restriction

lock downopen up

Reveal inner thoughts

unlock · release · free · open access · let out

security state

lock downreopen

Make accessible again

stand down · all clear · de-escalate · normalize · deregulate

freedom and control

lock downliberate

Set free from captivity

emancipate · set free · deregulate · unrestrict · let loose

Family

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G