Locked up or locked down?

Question

What is the difference between "locked up" and "locked down"

I believe they are a little bit difference but I am not quite sure.

I know "locked up" is about locking something or someone with physical restraints

How about "locked down". And any example of using it?

Doctor D · Accepted Answer

Both can be used interchangeably in the sense of "secure" when talking about a situation or event as opposed to a person.

Thus: He has the nomination locked up/locked down. (He has the votes to be sure he will be nominated).

Either works in this case.

Otherwise, there is some difference in the usage. "I want you to lock him up." (Put him in jail).

""I want you to lock him down. (Prevent him from moving.)

I hope this helps.

Anonymous · Answer

"Lock down" is a phrasal verb of quite recent coinage. It is also just the adverb "down" modifying the verb "lock". As a phrasal verb, it is confined to the meanings "To contain, confine, shut off, or otherwise restrict access to, usually for security purposes" and "To confine all of the prisoners of (a prison, cell block, etc.) to cells for an extended period of time, usually as a security measure following a disturbance; to confine (a prisoner) to a cell in this way" (OED). For example, "The authorities locked down the school when the phoned-in threat was received." Or "The warden locked the prison down when a fight broke out in the mess."

I think that people hear the phrasal verb now, and to use "down" with "lock" like that in another context is unusual.

Locked up or locked down?

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