Collocations for "locking"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "locking" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
lock
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.v
- lock the [door, car, house, safe]
- lock your [computer, account]
- lock up when [you leave, you're done]
- lock up your [valuables, gold, diamonds]
- don't forget to lock (up) your
- locked up the [vandals, prisoners, rioters]
- lock [vandals] up
- they locked him away (for)
- locked myself out (of the house)
- lock down a [job, interview, client]
- locked to [prevent, protect, keep]
- locked with a key
- my [knees, joints, jaw] locked
- locked my [knees]
- locked up in front of [her, everyone, the class]
- her eyes locked [on, onto]
- kept her eyes locked on [me, his face]
- lock on to the [target, jet]
- the [missile, pilot] locked onto the [target]
- lock with [the deadbolt, a key, an alarm]
- locked into [place, position]
- a [door, window, bike, car, drawer, steering] lock
- a [key, combination, fingerprint] lock
- [bolt, metal, deadbolt] locks
- [turned, fastened, bolted] the lock
- the key turned [firmly, smoothly, awkwardly] in the lock
- [broke, forced, picked, snapped] the lock
- release the [gun, rifle, firearm, safety] lock
- was [kept, guarded] under lock and key
- has her under lock and key
- has a lock on the [championship, primaries, negotiations]
- a security lock on the [device, computer, phone, entrance]
- a lock of (her) [curly, straight, black, wavy] hair
- has such [bouncy, shiny, soft, curly] locks
- the [barge, ship] [passed, navigated] through the lock
- a system of locks
- the lock [gate, keeper, system]
'locking' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):