lock in (something)

to be unable to change a condition.

A large percentage of these groups remain locked in poverty.

The two countries are locked in a dispute over the islands off the northern coast.

• give the elbow
• give the evil eye
• give the finger
• give the game away
• give the glad eye
• give the green light
• give the heave ho
• give the heebie-jeebies
• give their due
• give the jitters
• give the kiss of life
• give the lie to
• give the lie to something
• Give them hell!
• give the nod
• give the old heave ho
• give the once-over
• give the push
• give the right of first refusal
• give the right to first refusal
• give the rough side of tongue
• give the rough side of your tongue
• give the runaround
• give the sack
• give the shaft