| shut someone out shut (someone) out 1. to prevent a competitor from scoring any points. The Braves shut out the Dodgers today, 7–0. 2. to prevent someone from being a part of something. She shut him out of her world and had nothing to do with him. A group of African-American lawyers charged that the law firm shut them out. Movies like his are so unusual that they're basically shut out of consideration for an Oscar. |