hem in
Related to hem in: On a par, pay heed, come to fruition, along the line, give rise to
hem in
1. To surround someone or something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "hem" and "in." The police have hemmed in the burglars so that they can't escape from this area. It's very disappointing that towering mansions now completely hem in my little home.
2. To limit what someone or something can do. A noun or pronoun can be used between "hem" and "in." The terms of this contract really have me hemmed in—even my lawyer can't see a way out.
See also: hem
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
hem someone or something in
Fig. to trap or enclose someone or something. The large city buildings hem me in. Don't hem in the bird. Let it have a way to escape.
See also: hem
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
hem in
v.
1. To surround and enclose someone or something: Tall mountains hemmed in the valley. The troops hemmed their enemy in on all sides.
2. To restrict or confine someone or something: Don't hem me in with all these regulations. The police hemmed in the rowdy crowd.
See also: hem
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- not do (someone or oneself) any favors
- rescue from
- rescue from (someone or something)
- identify with
- attune to
- ask back
- orient
- orient to
- orient to (something)
- involved with