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under lock and key

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lock

1  [lok]
Use under lock and key in a Sentence
–noun
1. a device for securing a door, gate, lid, drawer, or the like in position when closed, consisting of a bolt or system of bolts propelled and withdrawn by a mechanism operated by a key, dial, etc.
2. a contrivance for fastening or securing something.
3. (in a firearm)
a. the mechanism that explodes the charge; gunlock.
b. safety (def. 4).
4. any device or part for stopping temporarily the motion of a mechanism.
5. an enclosed chamber in a canal, dam, etc., with gates at each end, for raising or lowering vessels from one level to another by admitting or releasing water.
6. an air lock or decompression chamber.
7. complete and unchallenged control; an unbreakable hold: The congresswoman has a lock on the senatorial nomination.
8. Slang. someone or something certain of success; sure thing: He's a lock to win the championship.
9. Wrestling. any of various holds, esp. a hold secured on the arm, leg, or head: leg lock.
10. Horology. (in an escapement) the overlap between a tooth of an escape wheel and the surface of the pallet locking it.
11. Metalworking. a projection or recession in the mating face of a forging die.
–verb (used with object)
12. to fasten or secure (a door, window, building, etc.) by the operation of a lock or locks.
13. to shut in a place fastened by a lock or locks, as for security or restraint.
14. to make fast or immovable by or as if by a lock: He locked the steering wheel on his car.
15. to make fast or immovable, as by engaging parts: to lock the wheels of a wagon.
16. to join or unite firmly by interlinking or intertwining: to lock arms.
17. to hold fast in an embrace: She was locked in his arms.
18. to move (a ship) by means of a lock or locks, as in a canal (often fol. by through, in, out, down, or up).
19. to furnish with locks, as a canal.
–verb (used without object)
20. to become locked: This door locks with a key.
21. to become fastened, fixed, or interlocked: gears that lock into place.
22. to go or pass by means of a lock or locks, as a vessel.
23. to construct locks in waterways.
—Verb phrases
24. lock in,
a. to commit unalterably: to lock in the nomination of the party's candidates.
b. (of an investor) to be unable or unwilling to sell or shift securities.
25. lock off, to enclose (a waterway) with a lock.
26. lock on, to track or follow a target or object automatically by radar or other electronic means.
27. lock out,
a. to keep out by or as if by a lock.
b. to subject (employees) to a lockout.
28. lock up,
a. to imprison for a crime.
b. Printing. to make (type) immovable in a chase by securing the quoins.
c. to fasten or secure with a lock or locks.
d. to lock the doors of a house, automobile, etc.
e. to fasten or fix firmly, as by engaging parts.
—Idioms
29. lock horns, to come into conflict; clash: to lock horns with a political opponent.
30. lock, stock, and barrel, completely; entirely; including every part, item, or facet, no matter how small or insignificant: We bought the whole business, lock, stock, and barrel.
31. under lock and key, securely locked up: The documents were under lock and key.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME; OE loc fastening, bar; c. MLG lok, OHG loh, ON lok a cover, lid, Goth -luk in usluk opening; akin to OE lūcan to shut

Related forms:
lockless, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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lock 1   (lŏk)   
n.  

  1. A device operated by a key, combination, or keycard and used, as on a door, for holding, closing, or securing.

  2. A section of a waterway, such as a canal, closed off with gates, in which vessels in transit are raised or lowered by raising or lowering the water level of that section.

  3. A mechanism in a firearm for exploding the charge.

  4. An interlocking or entanglement of elements or parts.

    1. Sports A hold in wrestling or self-defense that is secured on a part of an opponent's body.

    2. A secure hold; control: The distributor has a lock on most of the market.

    3. A sure thing; a certainty: His promotion is a lock.

v.   locked, lock·ing, locks

v.   tr.

    1. To fasten the lock of: close and lock a drawer.

    2. To shut or make secure with or as if with locks: locked the house.

    3. To sight and follow (a moving target) automatically: locked the enemy fighter in the gun sights.

    4. To aim (a weapon or other device) at a moving target so as to follow it automatically: "The pilot had locked his targeting radar on the slow-moving frigate" (Ed Magnuson).

    5. To equip (a waterway) with locks.

    6. To pass (a vessel) through a lock.

    7. To secure (letterpress type) in a chase or press bed by tightening the quoins.

    8. To fasten (a curved plate) to the cylinder of a rotary press.

    9. To end the processing of (a magnetic tape or disk) in such a way as to deny access to its contents.

    10. To protect (a file) from changes or deletion.

  2. To confine or exclude by or as if by means of a lock: locked the dog in for the night; locked the criminal up in a cell.

  3. To fix in place so that movement or escape is impossible; hold fast: The ship was locked in the ice through the winter. She felt that she had become locked into a binding agreement.

    1. To sight and follow (a moving target) automatically: locked the enemy fighter in the gun sights.

    2. To aim (a weapon or other device) at a moving target so as to follow it automatically: "The pilot had locked his targeting radar on the slow-moving frigate" (Ed Magnuson).

    3. To equip (a waterway) with locks.

    4. To pass (a vessel) through a lock.

    5. To secure (letterpress type) in a chase or press bed by tightening the quoins.

    6. To fasten (a curved plate) to the cylinder of a rotary press.

    7. To end the processing of (a magnetic tape or disk) in such a way as to deny access to its contents.

    8. To protect (a file) from changes or deletion.

  5. To engage and interlock securely so as to be immobile.

  6. To clasp or link firmly; intertwine: locked arms and walked away.

  7. To bind in close struggle or battle: The two dogs were locked in combat.

    1. To equip (a waterway) with locks.

    2. To pass (a vessel) through a lock.

    3. To secure (letterpress type) in a chase or press bed by tightening the quoins.

    4. To fasten (a curved plate) to the cylinder of a rotary press.

    5. To end the processing of (a magnetic tape or disk) in such a way as to deny access to its contents.

    6. To protect (a file) from changes or deletion.

  9. Printing

    1. To secure (letterpress type) in a chase or press bed by tightening the quoins.

    2. To fasten (a curved plate) to the cylinder of a rotary press.

    3. To end the processing of (a magnetic tape or disk) in such a way as to deny access to its contents.

    4. To protect (a file) from changes or deletion.

  10. To invest (funds) in such a way that they cannot easily be converted into cash.

  11. Computer Science

    1. To end the processing of (a magnetic tape or disk) in such a way as to deny access to its contents.

    2. To protect (a file) from changes or deletion.

v.   intr.

  1. To become fastened by or as if by means of a lock: The door locks automatically when shut.

  2. To become entangled; interlock.

  3. To become rigid or immobile: The mechanism tends to lock in cold weather.

  4. To pass through a lock or locks in a waterway.

Phrasal Verb(s):
lock outTo withhold work from (employees) during a labor dispute.

Idiom(s):
lock hornsTo become embroiled in conflict.

Idiom(s):
lock, stock, and barrelTo the greatest or most complete extent; wholly: an estate that was auctioned off lock, stock, and barrel.

Idiom(s):
under lock and keySecurely locked up.

[Middle English, from Old English loc, bolt, bar.]
lock'a·ble adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

lock  (2)
"tress of hair," from O.E. locc, from P.Gmc. *lukkoz (cf. O.N. lokkr, O.Fris., Du. lok, Ger. Locke "lock of hair"), from PIE *lugnos-, from base *lug- "to bend, to twist" (cf. Gk. lygos "pliant twig, withe," Lith. lugnas "flexible").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

under lock and key

Securely locked up, as in He keeps the wine under lock and key. [First half of 1500s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
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