shut oneself up in — to isolate oneself in a place and stay there for a long time, often to avoid other people or to focus on something
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: to isolate oneself in a place and stay there for a long time, often to avoid other people or to focus on something
Pronunciation (IPA): /ʃʌt wʌnˈself ʌp ɪn/
Example Sentences
- The famous writer shut himself up in his cabin to finish his novel.
- My brother shuts himself up in the bathroom for hours pretending to be a YouTuber.
- During exam period, she shut herself up in the library like a hermit crab.
shut oneself up in
NOUN[/ʃʌt wʌnˈself ʌp ɪn/]
to isolate oneself in a place and stay there for a long time, often to avoid other people or to focus on something
to isolate oneself in a place and stay there for a long time, often to avoid other people or to focus on something
Shut oneself up in the hut, cut all distractions out!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The phrase derives from Old English 'scyttan' (to shut, close), which combined with the adverbial particles 'up' and 'in' to denote complete closure and enclosure. From the Middle Ages, this construction acquired the figurative sense of isolating or confining oneself, particularly in contexts of self-imposed withdrawal or seclusion.
Breakdown
shut (Old English scyttan, to close) + oneself (reflexive pronoun) + up (adverbial particle intensifying completeness) + in (preposition indicating enclosure or interior space)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The famous writer shut himself up in his cabin to finish his novel.”
“My brother shuts himself up in the bathroom for hours pretending to be a YouTuber.”
“During exam period, she shut herself up in the library like a hermit crab.”
“He shut himself up in his workshop to build the perfect birdhouse.”
📚Related Words
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