locked in
Cannot back out
Locked in describes a state of intense focus or commitment where someone is fully engaged and performing at a high level.
When you're locked in, distractions fade and you're operating with purpose: She was locked in during the finals and didn't miss a shot.
The phrase can also describe being committed to an agreement or rate that can't easily be changed: We're locked in at 4% for the life of the loan.
In business contexts, locked-in customers face high switching costs.
- tied upSecured or unavailable
- trappedUnable to escape
- confinedKept within bounds
- hemmed inEnclosed with no escape
- enclosedSurrounded and sealed within
guaranteed · obdurate · dug in · clinched · signed sealed delivered · immovable · predetermined · boxed in · stuck fast · set in stone · inflexible · in a zone · caged · hyperfocused · zeroed in · committed · dead set · ensnared
- No turning backpoint of no return, Rubicon, burn bridges, all or nothing, crossed the line
- No Choiceno choice, no alternative, only option, take-it-or-leave-it, last resort
- racingrace, racing, race track, racetrack, lap
- attentionattention, focus, focused, attentiveness, focused attention
- commitment levelscommitted, dedicated, devoted, loyal, faithful
- expressions about containmentboxed in, bottled up, hemmed in, penned in, shut in
locked intentative
Uncertain and provisional
flexible · uncommitted · undecided · open · negotiable
locked infree
Without payment or restriction
released · locked out · let out · liberated · unconfined
locked indistracted
Unable to concentrate
unfocused · zoned out · checked out · scattered · disengaged
lock, locked, unlock, locks, locker, padlock, lockdown, lockup, locking