sealing off
Making fully impenetrable
Sealing off means closing or blocking completely to prevent entry, exit, or passage.
Police seal off crime scenes to preserve evidence.
A government might seal off borders during a crisis.
The phrase emphasizes total closure rather than partial restriction: They sealed off the contaminated wing of the hospital.
Related to but more absolute than simply closing or blocking.
- restrictingPlacing limits upon
- shutting outBlocking from entering
- isolatingSetting apart from contact
- enclosingContaining within boundaries
- barricadingBlocking passage with obstacles
blockading · quarantine · confining · partitioning · securing · closure · gasket · impermeability · censorship · dam · hermetic · shielding · exclusion zone · no man's land · caulking · estrangement · blackout · dead zone
- rugbyscrum, try, rugby, Rugby World Cup, rugby union
- ruckscleanout, clean out, jackal, slow ball, side entry
sealing offopening up
Becoming less guarded
unsealing · opening · unblocking · unlocking · clearing
sealing offventing
Releasing emotion verbally
releasing · letting out · aerating · letting in · uncorking
sealing offconnecting
Establishing a link
linking · joining · integrating · bridging · uniting