SINCE 1828
box in
phrasal verb
boxed in;
boxing in;
boxes in
Definition of box in
: to surround (someone or something) and make movement difficult
The other bicyclists boxed her in and she couldn't move ahead.
—usually used as (be) boxed in We were boxed in and couldn't get out of our parking space. —sometimes used figuratively I feel boxed in by all these rules.
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