shut (someone or something) in

shut (someone or something) in

To force someone or something to be confined within an enclosed space. If you shut the dogs in for too long, they start could go crazy and start breaking things. The teacher shut us in the classroom until we completed the assignment.See also: shut

shut in

v. To confine someone or something in or as if in a closed space: My older brother shut me in the attic to frighten me. Shut in the dog when you leave.See also: shut