lock out

To accidentally leave someone outside a locked place, unable to enter.

• I locked myself out.
• She locked us out of the house by mistake.
• Have you ever locked yourself out without your phone?

How to use it: lock someone out of somewhere (I locked myself out of the flat.)

Similar words: shut out

Common phrases: lock someone out, lock yourself out

To stop another computer process from using data while one process is working with it.

• This operation locks out other threads.
• The first process locked the others out of the shared object.
• Does the transaction lock out readers until it finishes?

How to use it: lock something out of something (The update locks other processes out of the database.)

Similar words: block, exclude

Common phrases: lock out threads, lock out other processes

To secure a machine so nobody can start it while doing so would be dangerous.

• Lock out the machine first.
• The engineer locked out the pump before replacing the pipe.
• Has anyone locked out the power supply for maintenance?

How to use it: lock out something (Workers must lock out the equipment before repairing it.)

Similar words: disable

Common phrases: lock out equipment, lock out a machine

To be unable to focus your attention on what you need to do.

• I'm locked out on this homework.
• After hours of studying, she was completely locked out.
• Are you locked out on the assignment too?

How to use it: be locked out on something (I am locked out on this assignment today.)

Similar words: lose focus, zone out

Common phrases: lock out mentally, lock out completely