have a lock on
idiom
: to be assured of (something)
He appears to have a lock on the nomination for governor.
Examples of have a lock on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lena Brown is a recluse who doesn’t have a lock on her door and so sleeps with a hammer by her pillow.
—
Alex Kotlowitz, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2024
Democrats have a lock on statewide races in the overwhelmingly blue state, and for months the speculation was that two prominent U.S. House members from that party, Reps. Katie Porter and Adam Schiff, would battle it out until Election Day.
—Nicholas Riccardi, The Denver Post, 29 Feb. 2024
Old Dominion similarly continued to have a lock on the group of the year award, picking it up for the sixth consecutive year.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 8 Nov. 2023
And the young do not have a lock on this trait, just as the old are not the only ones vulnerable to poor health.
—Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2023
View Photos Today, minivans have a lock on 8 percent of the total vehicle market, hauling kids, plywood, and stuff that families used to carry in station wagons.
—Frank Markus, Car and Driver, 31 Aug. 2023
Despite his hardware at third base, Urías doesn’t have a lock on the position, with preseason No. 1 prospect Gunnar Henderson also playing there.
—Nathan Ruiz, Baltimore Sun, 7 Apr. 2023
These talented chefs have a lock on the cooking: So much of it lands in the sweet spot of intelligent, surprising combinations and abject pleasure.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2022
Light hitting shortstop Orlando Arcia, and catcher Omar Narvaez have a lock on their positions.
—Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2021
Alex Kotlowitz, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2024
Democrats have a lock on statewide races in the overwhelmingly blue state, and for months the speculation was that two prominent U.S. House members from that party, Reps. Katie Porter and Adam Schiff, would battle it out until Election Day.
—Nicholas Riccardi, The Denver Post, 29 Feb. 2024
Old Dominion similarly continued to have a lock on the group of the year award, picking it up for the sixth consecutive year.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 8 Nov. 2023
And the young do not have a lock on this trait, just as the old are not the only ones vulnerable to poor health.
—Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2023
View Photos Today, minivans have a lock on 8 percent of the total vehicle market, hauling kids, plywood, and stuff that families used to carry in station wagons.
—Frank Markus, Car and Driver, 31 Aug. 2023
Despite his hardware at third base, Urías doesn’t have a lock on the position, with preseason No. 1 prospect Gunnar Henderson also playing there.
—Nathan Ruiz, Baltimore Sun, 7 Apr. 2023
These talented chefs have a lock on the cooking: So much of it lands in the sweet spot of intelligent, surprising combinations and abject pleasure.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2022
Light hitting shortstop Orlando Arcia, and catcher Omar Narvaez have a lock on their positions.
—Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'have a lock on.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near have a lock on
Cite this Entry
“Have a lock on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/have%20a%20lock%20on. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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